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Thank you for the storyline with Jim and Iris. My grandmother just had a hip replacement. She was a very active woman in her late 80s and the loss of independence has really taken a toll on her. She has six children and several grandchildren who can help and do help, but it is so hard to see her this way. The pain on Elly's face in today's script spoke volumes to my heart.

Jacey L, NY

Your books have followed my life exactly. Getting married having kids watching them grow. Learning to drive, leaving home and going to university, getting married. All at the same time in my life as the books arrived. They were almost like life guides. I have them all and always wait with anticipation for the next one. You are a wonderful writer.

Ruth, ON

Dear Lynn,
I love this website! Everyday I read the featured strip and know my family at home in Canada is doing the same thing. It amazes me how our lives parallel the characters, right down to the fire before christmas. Thank you for keeping me close to my family when I'm so far away.

Brenda J, Bournemouth UK

I am so disturbed by the way Jim is portrayed, and I can't find any humor in it. This man fought for his country, raised a family and made a solid contribution to society and now, mostly due to his age, he is in frail health. Yet he is dismissed by his daughter and wife as acting like a two year old. What a lack of respect. My father is the same age as Jim and is also a war hero. My sweet dad is deaf, his memory is not the greatest, and he gets frustrated, but never, NEVER do I ever forget that he fought for his country and enabled me and my family to remain free and privileged. I would never refer to him as 'crazy', as that spoiled brat Michael did to his grandfather, and I would never attempt to patronize him by claiming he was acting like a two year old, the way Elly did to her father. Our country owes these veterans a huge debt. Why not reflect this in your Jim storyline? Elly thinks nothing of screeching like a banshee over the smallest issue - !
why can't her dad be grouchy if he wants to be???? And I cannot even begin to imagine that self-centered, prissy Michael having the guts to fight for his country - he abandoned his young family to make their own way out of a burning house.

Ann, Alberta

I'm really pleased to see Elly taking food over to her dad, and was also happy to see him at the house in Sunday's strip. Jim and Iris are important members of the Patterson family, yet sometimes I get the feeling that everyone except for April neglects them because they're rarely mentioned or shown interacting with the other family members. Why, for instance, did Jim have to go into a resident facility when Iris went to visit her daughter?

For another example: When Mike went to give his grandfather the good news about his book being published, Jim's aphasia-induced reaction so completely floored his grandson that it was obvious Mike didn't understand anything about Jim's condition. The inference made was that he's not spending all that much time with his grandfather, and that is a tragedy. I'm the same age as Mike and I lost my beloved grandfather only last year -- in fact, he died the same week that Jim had his stroke!

Normally the Pattersons are a very loving and supportive family, so I hope that for the remainder of the strip, we'll continue to see them embracing Jim and Iris and giving them the attention and care they deserve. Do it for those of us who wish we had the chance.

Kay M

Please, please, no more visits to Grandpa and two-week story arcs with aphasia-inspired jokes. I'll take Francie the theologian and the world's wimpiest couple over this.

I would however, like more peeks into Elly and John's dinners. Can we have shepherd's pie tomorrow? Chicken stew?

Catya B

It's rare that I can really identify with characters in a fictional world, but I am, and always have, been able to understand Elizabeth Patterson.

I'm a couple of years older than Elizabeth, but she and I share so many similarities. She and I are both at-risk teachers and, while she was in Mtig, we both shared the experience of teaching a mainly Native population - an experience that, I believe, makes both her and I better teachers. We also lived far apart from our families. When she up and decided to move back home, I completely understood her reasons. It's true that having a boyfriend makes things easier, but nothing replaces family. It's a shame Paul couldn't understand that.

Finally, I can understand Liz's heartbreak having been in that situation many times. I applaud her opportunity to reunite with Anthony because I truly believe they were meant to be. I remember how upset I was when I found out about Anthony's marriage, which, of course, led to extreme happiness (as bad as that sounds) when he got divorced. Then, when Elizabeth asked Anthony to escort her to Shawna Marie's wedding and he said he already had a date, I about had a heart attack! Thankfully, I was spared when they finally found each other again.

Through the years, Elizabeth Patterson has always struck me as a person who could not only be a very good friend, but practically a sister. I have seen much of myself in her. I am hoping that we see her marry Anthony and live happily ever after. She deserves all that and more.

Finally, to all anti Liz/Anthony people, I don't dispute your right to disagree. Love is a very fickle thing, as both Elizabeth and Anthony have learned. However, so few of us get second chances. No matter where this romance goes, whether it's marriage or separate ways, don't deny them this chance to find out.

Thank you for all of the laughs, tears, and smiles. I'll never forget them.

Kelly, Laurinburg NC

Could you possibly be any more condescending or patronizing toward Grandpa Jim than you were in the 8/14 installment? (Actually, it was probably worse when Elly's genius son Michael asked if his grandfather was "crazy" to his face.)Do you hate all men, or just older ones?

Ed, NJ

I am the probably the LAST person (art/music snob) you'd think would be into something likle a "mainstream/normal" comic strip, but I've been pretty faithful for over 20 some-odd years now. Since back when Farley was a pup. Maybe it's because ever since visiting Canada in 1975 as a 12 yr old, I've always wanted to live there. With FBOFW, I get to, for a minute or two a day, every day of the week. Cheers!

Michael D, St. Louis

Lynn,

You do such an amazing job keeping your readers engaged year after year. It is amazing how many people show such emotion over the decisions the Patterson family make. There are a lot of people who are vehement in their approval/disapproval of the Liz-Anthony storyline. This just proves how talented you and your staff are. Whether or not they agree, everyone seems to have VERY strong opinions on how the Patterson should behave.

I have been reading the strip since the first year or so. Unlike many readers, there has not been a single character that I could closely identify with. But that has never stopped my enjoyment of the story. There have been times that I was not able to follow due to time or availability of the strip, but every time I have the opportunity to get back to reading the funnies, I am always drawn to FBorFW. Since the advent of the strip on the internet, I haven't missed anything. While I too have strong opinions, they are just that, my opinions. You are, by far, the best person to determine where the story goes. As one reader commented recently, we live in a society generally lacking in family roots and stability. I appreciate the fact that the Patterson's have been able to remain in close proximity. My husband and I come from two very different families. His immediate family still lives within 30 miles of each other, while mine is scattered from Minnesota to Arizona to Washington !
to California. I really look forward to the evolution of the strip. While the current story arcs will not progress as they have in the past, I am looking forward to see Michael's perspective of his own childhood.

I hope that you continue to develop the characters according to themselves rather than the opinions of the readers. You have shown a phenomenal ability in developing the characters as they have grown and matured over the years. The overall consistency of storyline is impressive and there are days when I wish I had half the ability you have shown to weave a tale. Even though the strip will continue in a modified format, I will greatly miss the evolution of the characters as they grow and change.

Congratulations on your many years of success and here's to partial retirement!

Tracie D, Washington