(Strip Number 4033, Original Publication Date, 9 July 1981)
Panel 1: We find ourselves in the master bedroom a few moments after Wednesday's exercise in despair and self-loathing. John tells Elly, who is sitting on the bed frowning in despair, "Here we go again. Elly, you are NOT fat."
Panel 2: He then points to his own well-padded physique and points out that he isn't as skinny as he used to be either.
Panel 3: Since Elly never wants to be reassured, only to be told that she's right to live in a state of constantly despairing over nothing, she tells him that they're both going to pot.
Panel 4: Since John thinks that he married a woman who can actually be moved by humor, he tries and fails to reassure her by saying that at least they're deteriorating at the same rate.
Summary: It isn't going to work because Elly will not let it; she never wants her problems to go away. What she wants is to have everyone join her in feeling miserable about a problem she will do nothing to fix.
ETA: The latest banner is about summer vacation despite it being taken from John and Elly's March Break cruise.