Just a short one before Christmas; also because with how busy it’s been on the run up, I’ve found myself with less time for books.

But, in an effort to make up for this, I’ve turned back to one of my old, easy-to-read childhood favourites: the comic book strip Calvin and Hobbes by American author and artist Bill Watterson!

I’ve actually been wanting to revisit these books for some time now and I finally got round to looking through the many bookshelves in the house until I found them this Christmas.

When I tell you the pure joy I felt when I finally spied them tucked away at the back!

These comic compilation books are my mum’s and she’s very careful with them. I remember it was her who would read them to my brother and I as children, keeping our eager and grubby hands from damaging the pages.

Watterson’s books meant so much to me as a child and I have found that they still do, coming back to them as an adult. There are a lot of lessons that I can appreciate now that would have flown right over my head as a kid. I think this lends itself to making Calvin and Hobbes one of those timeless classics that you hear about and that everyone can enjoy.

It’s remarkable, really, just how much power and impact a literary work can have on you at different points in your life.

As a child, I merely enjoyed the amazing art and loved Calvin’s adventures with Hobbes as they were. I, too, would dream of exploring the great countryside; travelling the world; hiking through deep snow; and even voyaging into space. I loved Calvin’s tree house especially, although it became a matter of contention in our house because it lead to me wanting one too. Only, we had no tree in our garden to accomplish this with. I was very sad for about a week.

But coming back to the stories as an adult, I am surprised by just how melancholy some of the comic strips actually are. Calvin, immensely wise beyond his years, will drop the most sage life goals; will inspire us to look at the bigger picture; live in the moment; and, quite profoundly, he will contemplate the limited nature of childhood. At times, Calvin will even morbidly consider the finite nature of life. Each time this happened, I found myself struck dumb. There’s a hollowness – something bittersweet – that accompanies Calvin imparting these wisdoms, and I was surprised at how much it hurt.

At how nostalgic it made me feel?

But, on a more hopeful note – and more than anything – I think that the Calvin and Hobbes books are a reminder to never grow up and to never stop exploring. Certainly, with my travelling, I’ve been lucky enough to figure out what I enjoy in life. Funnily enough, it’s the very same things that child me was doing without a care in the world: drawing, creative writing, enjoying anime and fandoms without shame.

I wonder where I would be today, and whether I’d have any hobbies at all, if I had not rediscovered myself and these interests. I could go on a bit of a tangent about growing up a teenager in this world of social media; could talk about the tragedies of modern society as we know it; and discuss the nature of being so tired after work that there’s no energy left to pursue pastimes.

But I won’t, because it’s Christmas.

So, back to the point at hand: I think I’ve started something.

As per usual, everyone is over at ours this Christmas and seeing me read these comic books again has made them want to relive childhood memories, too. Now there is a queue for who’ll get the books next and it’s making for quite the entertaining reasoning and debates between us.

But for now! Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates, and I’ll see you in the New Year!