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Wow - we started off with a bang! Thanks for all of your submissions; we're reading through them all and will post as many as we can. Here are a few of the first to come in. We'll try to stay caught up!!!

When I was pregnant with my daughter, who just turned 16, I asked my older sister what I would need to have ready at home. She answered by sending me the Sunday FBoFW strip where Elly mentally goes over the checklist of what she has for April and then says to her belly "Ready when you are". I kept that strip on my refrigerator for years.

Diana G

I'm so proud of Shannon right now for standing up for herself I actually gave her a "you go girl"! To me this isn't just another strip to read, this is a real world in which I have been apart of for so long, you're family and I never miss a day. Lynn does a fabulous job taking care of you folks! Oh by the way, I'm still really hoping that Liz and Anthony finally get together. It looks like its heading that way, but she had to figure it out herself. I for one am hoping that she marries him!!

Cheryl B

As the parent of a young adult with several disabilities, i just want to say thank you for the fabulous story line right now with April, Shannon, and some very special friends. I am lucky enough to have a daughter like Shannon who doesn't let people judge her by her disabilities nor does she define herself that way. But we need more voices like yours helping others to understand this key concept--never underestimate anyone with a challenge or so-called disability. If one takes the time to listen as Shannon says, well, miracles happen and you find these individuals will change your life forever. Thank you from the bottom of this mom's heart.

Deb J

I first met my friend Nina on a field trip to the local art museum. I wanted to stay later than the group I rode with, so she and I and some others had lunch and then I hitched a ride home with her.

I don't even know how I brought it up, but I somehow spilled my beans about my daily FBorFW addiction, and how I had recently spent hours going through the entire online archive. She looked at me somewhat suspiciously and said that she, too, loved FBorFW and read it every day! Neither one of us could believe it, but I guess we just underestimated the love people everywhere have for the Pattersons.

I don't think I need to tell you that we are fast friends today. We regularly discuss and speculate upon the happenings of FBorFW; luckily, we both want the same outcomes so there are few disagreements. We both love the strip and, while we're sorry to see that it will be changing in format, we love Lynn and wish her happy retirement!

Jeannette

Next week our family will be honouring the 10th anniversary of the death of my mother. Not that long after she died a favorite Sunday comic in color made me laugh and reminded me of her! It is the story of Elly using "yap-tel" as their telephone answering machine! In the story Elly gets more and more and more frustrated. The comic ends with "yap-tel" deleting the phone messages before Elly got to listen to them. This was my mom - she hated answering machines and the automated systems that took orders at the stores.

This cartoon appeared just before my mother's January birthday and it was a sign to me to remember the huge sense of humor that my mother never lost! Every once and a while I take a look at it in the archives on line and it still makes me smile. Thank you Lynn :-)

Jane B

Thanks for the special needs characters being represented in FBorFW. As the parent of a 9 year old with Down Syndrome this is a topic near and dear to my heart. I love April's positive reaction to Shannon. We are so thrilled to find typical friends like her for our daughter.

Paulette B

Hi! Great idea, an interactive blog! I just want to say that I love the FBorFW website - there's always lots of information, it's always different, and ALWAYS updated! Checking out the website is a favourite morning ritual. Though the strip runs in the local paper, I have to read it first thing in the morning, but it's never enough - I can't wait to see what's going to happen tomorrow! The monthly letters are great - they fill in the characters' thoughts and help us read between the lines of the strip. I love the games, e-greets and peeks behind the scenes.

Thank you, Lynn and staff, for this wonderful story. With five grown daughters, almost six grandchildren (#6 is due next week), and a total of eight dogs and three cats in the family, we can really relate to the hopes and dreams of this fictional, yet very real, family.

Judy B

I have waited a long time to say that I really appreciate being able to have a coffee chat with what seems like "real" girlfriends, people I have grown up with and older with, watched their kids go through things whilst mine did, and make me feel a little more normal than I thought was at the time.

This sounds pathetic, but I am pretty scared about the end of it all as it will mark an end of a long relationship/connection/family tie. I therefore relish each day's cartoon more than the last as I know the days are numbered.
Thanks Lynn for making my life a little bit more understandable, and me a little a bit less nutty.

Carol