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Dear Lynn, I have totally enjoyed your imaginary Patterson family over the years and am in awe of your gift of humor and insight in dealing with the trials and tribulations of life. Thank you so much for making me laugh out loud...and making me contemplate my own trials and finding humor in them as well. I've shared the Lawrence story and the Sharon story and others with my daughter. They are all "lessons" worth sharing! I'm now 50, but I recall my Mom sharing the Dr. Seuss books with me as a child. Those also were "lessons with humor"! Thank you again and again....

Peggy T, Houma LA

Wow! Paul from St. John sure is Snarky McKnowsItAll today.

a) I doubt any of us would love the strip as much as we do if Elly/ John, Michael/DeAnna were the perfect parents all the time. If kids didn't get into trouble/ bonk their heads, stick things in their mouth, we wouldn't have much to relate to.

b) "Photo albums Elly stupidly left behind". Those albums are there for the VERY SPECIFIC reason that they will be used at the portal through wich the new "Hybrid" strips will appear. They will be the jumping off point for flash backs to old strips. Reguadless of the fact that most of us wouldn't leave photo albums behind, people seem to forget that IT'S A FICTIONALIZED STORY!

c) I'll take the bumps and bruises I collected in childhood over hovering parents any day. My parents let me learn for myself the consequenses of my actions and I am stronger and happier for it. Meanwhile, I have watched people I know grow into insecure, emotionally stunted "adults", because their "hovering" parents never allowed them to make a decision for themselves because they "might" make a mistake.

d) What lesson would Deanna be teaching her children if she stopped what she was doing every time they demanded her attention? While I acknowledge that children can be mostly "self absorbed" and can reach that crazed point of "I want it now", I also know, from personal experience, that even 3 year olds CAN be reasoned with.

Molly, North Hollywood

Ann from Edmonton - You hit the nail on the head!! I agree 100% with every one of your comments. For me, FBOFW's two biggest shark jumping moments were (1) Lawrence's coming out & (2)the death of Farley the dog.
These two events virtually coincided & changed the entire tone of the strip, which used to be quite funny.
As everyone knows, Lynn's brother-in-law is gay. It was so obvious that Lynn was determined to project her own policital/social views on the subject, since gay rights were just becoming a hot topic at the time. At no point before did Lawrence display gay tendencies - he even "stole" Mike's girlfriend Martha away from him at his birthday party. Then, after the character had disappeared for a while, he reappears and all of a sudden he's gay. Lynn simply could have mentioned Lawrence's orientation and left it at that, but no, instead we were subjected to a two month a pro-gay rant. She rammed the subject down our throats and alienated a large number of her readers. (Before you say anything - I'm not homo-phobic. My one of best friends is gay & he doesn't like FBOFW either). Then, in order to keep the real-time nature of the strip, Lynn decides to kill-off Farley. The late-great Charles Schultz was correct in chastizing Lynn about doing this. She should have listened to her idol. Who wants to wake up in the morning & read about the death of a beloved family pet? Yes, I know - they're just drawings on a piece of paper - but that whole storyline was contrived (April falling into the creek & Farley saving the day - how realistic was that?), depressing and sad. It was this very moment that humorous tone of the strip was completely thrown out the window.
Now, there were some great moments afterwards: The death of Grandma Marian was well done; the Jeremy Jones bully story was good in that it broadened April's charactization a bit; and who didn't cheer when Elizabeth beat up Eric after discovering he was cheating on her? But these were few and far between. I now cringe everytime I read FBOFW.

John, Mississauga ON

Again, I am shocked by the negative comments to come out of this site. While I understand everyone has the right to air his or her praises and grievances with the strip's story lines and that we all have an emotional connection to this strip, it needs to be remembered that Lynn is changing over the format of the strip in a few months from now, so, in order for that to go smoothly, there are some storylines, actions by characters, etc. that will seem slightly out-of-whack, but will more than likley resolve themselves down the road.

I love the passion that comes from this board, but for the love of all that is holy, it is a work of fiction with nuances of real-life added in! Children will put things in their mouths, parents will react nonchalantly, teenagers will complain about their living situation. Get over yourselves. Do you know how hard it is to animate real-life reactions to situations? You sit there at your computer or newspaper and critize a person's life's work that is meant to invoke a sense of joy and pleasure, but some of you just can't seperate that.

These characters, just as people in real life, make mistakes, make bad judgement calls or act like idiots. These characters are no more free from personal trangressions and flaws than the rest of us, which is why the strip is so relatable, but it is still fiction.

An artist can not and should not play to the whims of their admirers, if they did, than the inspiration would not be coming from within that person, but from the need to please and to be accepted. Think about that the next time you want to slam Lynn and the storylines. She does this because she wants to share her gift with people and in her own way, add something positive to this world, but unfortunately, some of you have distorted that.

Tiffany F, Akron Ohio

I have absolutely no qualms about your "life strip" as I like to call it. I mean it's often amusing, but it's not a "comic" strip. I would love to see April become a veterinarian. That's all I ask. Thank you!
Oh, and animating your work on the website isn't necessary in my opinion.

Cindy F, Boise

Not really a question but a comment. I'm 41 and I really enjoy the current story with Mike moving into his old house. I don't know why this has effected me emotionally but it has. I guess seeing life doing it's thing and making that circle and being aware that we're all growing old has made me miss my family. I guess sometimes what's happening to the Pattersons does happen in real life but not in my case and I feel like I've lost out on things that india ink seems to be going through. I wish that I could have given my parents grandchildren and that they could be proud of me like Mike's are. Your strip is very well-rounded as far as humor, content and most of all, style. You have great ink lines and it's inspiring to see how well you've come from the begining as far as detail and quality. I can see how Mr. Schulz liked you. You are on the same level and there is no higher level in my opinion. Thank you for being an extended part of my life. Eh.

Joe V.

I've been reading you since your first book, "David, We're Pregnant," which is still sitting on my shelf to be given to my now pregnant daughter. The strip has brought laughter to the mundane, perspective to the overwhelming, and much joy to me and my two daughters. In fact, we talk about whether or not Liz and Anthony will get back together, as if they are family! As a teacher, I've thoroughly enjoyed the experiences Liz has in a classroom. She could be anywhere and find those same students. May your ideas never stop flowing, nor your pen run out of ink. Thanks for a good many, many years.

Julie B, Charlston West Virginia

I love FBorFW and feel like is part of me . I have read it since the 80's.
I have to add one more KUDOS to your long list of "way to go for" the Shannon Lake storyline because I have a disabled son and every thing that Shannon does to stick up for herself and her special friends makes me scream with pride for my son and her.
You have touched me and possibly millions of people who read your strip.
Thank-You

Melonie, CA

Good Grief: The so PC posts yesterday are somewhat scary. Yes, kids can/will/do get into situations. Yes, tragedies DO occur. They are the unusual, not the NORM. Yes, parents DO actually persue their own interests/jobs/chores. A healthy marriage, and a little healthy neglect in terms of oversight can go a long ways to give any child a healthy up-bringing. The modern idea of totally coddling and protecting a child, so that it never learns from experience is NOT healthy, IMHO.

Gareth, Austin, Tx

Lynn, you have made me feel like the backyard gossip. I love reading about this exceptional family. You have allowed us to share the joys, sorrows, laughter and love of the Patterson family everyday life. For this I thank you.
I have always imagined what would happen to the Patterson family ten years from now.
Michael would be a famous novelist and his best selling novel by far would be based on his grandfather's life.
Elizabeth would be married to Anthony. Therese would release her parental rights and Elizabeth adopted Francoise. Elizabeth and her family return to Mtigwaki. There they start an adoption agency called the "White Goose Adoptions" after they adopt one of Elizabeth students.
April will be the next James Herriot. She will have moved to the country and have started her own practice.
John would be retired and he just recently opened a toy store that specialized in trains.
Elly tried her own hand at writing and her first book was based on the Patterson family.
Last but not least, Meredith and Robin would be in high school. And we would be watching their lives unfold.

Anonymous