by Sybil Johnson
My cataract surgeries are done. Sorry I missed my last posting day. My eyes were adjusting to their new reality. Honestly, they’re still adjusting so working on a computer is a little difficult right now. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Today I’m celebrating the Peanuts comic strip. October 2, 2025 marked 75 years since the first strip appeared in newspapers (October 2, 1950). Hard to believe it’s been around that long. The last strip was published on February 13, 2000 after Charles M. Schulz died. That’s a lot of years of writing and drawing strips that ran 7 days a week in the newspaper. I can’t imagine what that was like coming up with that much content.
Peanuts is still going strong. I still see Peanuts merchandise everywhere. Truth be told, I have a lot of it. When I see something new, I think "Do I need that?" The answer is no. "Do I want it?" Most of the time the answer is "Yes, Yes, Yes."
I am a big Peanuts fan. I may be more of a cat person, but Snoopy is my hero. I loved the strip growing up. I used to draw Snoopy and the gang in grade school. The first thing I wanted to be was a cartoonist, largely based on this comic strip. I gave that thought up after grade school when I decided I was better at other more academic pursuits. Still, I have a fondness for the Peanuts gang to this day.
It’s amazing how many things I remember. I had posters on my wall and a Snoopy stuffed animal on my bed. In the past, I have beeped my cat’s nose as a sign of great affection. (Picture a poster with Lucy beeping Snoopy on the nose to show her affection.) I also was influenced in other ways. In grade school, I used to cross my fingers when I went to bed to ward off vampires. It wasn’t until I was an adult and saw Snoopy doing this in a comic strip from the 1960s that I figured out where I got that from.
Here are ways we all can celebrate the Peanuts gang:
Watching the old TV Specials: We used to watch the Halloween and Christmas specials every year when they aired on TV. Without DVDs and DVRs and streaming, this was appointment TV. Your one chance to see them that year. “It’s a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” is still my favorite with the Christmas special a close second I admit to being mildly disturbed by Woodstock in the Thanksgiving special. He just seems way to eager to eat the turkey (a fellow bird.) Now I have them on DVD so I can watch them anytime I want.
Singing Pumpkin Carols: Yes, Pumpkin Carols. In the 60s or 70s I got a little booklet that was sold as a Hallmark greeting card with the words to pumpkin carols set to the music from popular Christmas carols. There’s “Up In the Pumpkin Patch” and “A Pumpkin Wonderland”. Though a little faded, it’s still one of my prized possessions.
Crocheting Snoopy and Woodstock; Awhile back I got a couple Woobles kits so I’ve crocheted both Snoopy and Woodstock. I think they turned out nice.
Visit the Charles M. Schulz museum in person in Santa Rosa, CA or online. We went to this museum in 2007. It was sort of a pilgrimage for me. In honor of the 75th they are having a lot of special exhibits. Here I am with my good friend, Charlie Brown.
Learn how to draw Charlie Brown and Snoopy: I didn’t have any guidance when I was drawing the Peanuts characters as a kid. Just drew them as best I could. Now, though, there are a number of YouTube tutorials that walk you through the process.
How to draw Snoopy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ2vZMP3AXg&t=3s
How to draw Charlie Brown https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anq4qY2XCvk
I’m sure there are a lot of other ways to celebrate Peanuts. Any other Peanuts fans out there?
I’m going off now to sing some Pumpkin Carols.
