Those Moments

Friday, February 28, 2025

I just saw a Fred Basset cartoon online. “Fred Basset, The Hound that’s Almost Human”, was a cartoon that I used to read in the morning newspaper before heading off to school. My Dad used to read it as well, or I would share with him a cartoon that I liked. We had a few favourites that we were able to recite from memory. We laughed together over these cartoons. Sometimes it was the words. Sometimes it was the look on the characters faces, achieved with just a few lines by cartoonist Alex Graham.

The same was so of some comedy sketches from various comedians who would appear on British television back in the 1970s and ’80s. Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther films as well. We had our favourite moments from those films and used to laugh together as we remembered and recited them. Years later I would on occasion go looking for these sketches on YouTube and send them to him. Happy memories.

Returning to Fred Basset, I spotted a cartoon this morning that immediately made me think of Dad. I thought to send it to him, but I couldn’t. Dad passed away in 2021.

Four years ago, well three and half, and I still catch myself in those moments where I think of our interactions…and am no longer able to follow them through. Bittersweet memories.