Okay... what happened to the Widow Doonesbury?

Doonesbury suddenly goes into reruns for a couple of weeks, and when we come back to the present Mike's mother is dead. With no explanation a moderately important continuing character is gone and everybody is attending her funeral.

Am I the only one thinking that Gary Trudeau was not actually "on vacation" for those couple of weeks?  What on earth could have been in those strips that they were yanked from publication??

Gay soldiers on the front line - a view from the field

Latest post to the always fascinating Sandbox blog - a blogspot started by Gary Trudeau for members of the military to talk about their personal experiences, thoughts and feelings.