As the creator of the famous “Cathy” comic strip, Cathy Guisewite connected with her readers for more than three decades (“Ack!”). The Post spoke with her about her new book, “Fifty Things That Aren’t My Fault: Essays from the Grown-Up Years” (GP Putnam’s Sons), out Tuesday, which tackles aging, transitions, children and the struggle of being part of what she calls “the panini generation.”
Talk more about this “panini generation.”
I had heard the term “sandwich generation” — caring for generations on either side of me — and I was even looking forward to getting to be the loving, benevolent life guide for my parents and daughter. But my life doesn’t feel like a sandwich at all. It feels like a panini — as if I’m literally squashed flat by all there is to do for my aging parents on one side and aging daughter on the other, with aging me stuck in the middle, aware that I’m running out of time to do all the things in life I still want to.
What’s some of the reader feedback that’s stayed with you over the years?
“I feel like you’re spying on my life.” “I can’t believe you just wrote about the same thing I’m going through.” “You’re the reason my mom and I are still talking to each other.” Things like that. Some of my most special mail came from mother/daughter teams who wrote to express how my strip helped deepen their relationship with each other. Many told me it helped them communicate with each other during tough times. They told me they sent my strips back and forth and that the strips helped them understand each other, or at least helped break the ice so they could laugh at themselves a little.
What circumstances led you to write this book?
I’ve always sought the comfort of blank paper when I was feeling overwhelmed by things. It helps me sort things out by writing them down. Lots of times, it helps me find a different way to look at things so I can see some humor or at least have some perspective. This book came about one essay at a time, with no grand plan. I was just trying to survive the emotional rocky road of dealing with my daughter leaving for college, my parents entering their final years and the shock of suddenly being in my 60s.
It was thrilling to get to write more thoughtfully and completely than the space in the comic strip would allow.