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Regarding your attempts to retcon the entire Liz and Anthony mess -- Oceania has not always been at war with Eastasia. Nice try.

LC

You folks at FBOFW obviously have a different concept of "faithful" (see Sunday's strip) than many of the rest of us do. Didn't Anthony hit on Liz while still married to Therese? "Wait for me." Weren't those his words?

My question is this: will he some day be asking some other woman to wait for him while he figures out how to rid himself of Elizabeth? Or are you counting on the fact that no one else would be desperate enough to bother with such a sad excuse for a human being? Because Liz sure picked a winner this time!

Please, in future try to keep a plausible story going, would you? You've twisted people and events into pretzels getting Liz to decide the loser of the century is for her. Maybe he richly deserves her. Consider Paul Wright's narrow escape from being chained to Liz. ("Transfer up here to the middle of nowhere to be with me. Oh, you did? Ha, ha, joke's on you, I'm leaving! Now, transfer again! Great for your career, all this zigzagging around. Oh, no, you hooked up with your old girlfriend when you realized I was yanking you around? How could you? Boo-hoo-hoo, poor me, you done me wrong.")

Oh, and the lovely Elly and John, and their take on Paul not dropping everything to be with Liz at the trial: "Where is he when you need him?" Uh, working, actually. Far away in the frozen north, where he transferred to be with your stupid little girl. That's where he is. Okay, his job isn't as important as selling cinnamon buns to passing motorists, but being a policeman has its challenges.

Brr. Creepy, the whole thing.

Lyn

I'm thrilled that Liz has finally found true love, after so many false starts and broken hearts; we're about the same age and I've always identified with her, so it's really good to see her so happy and her life full of promise! That said, there's one thing that does disturb me: I always had the impression that Anthony's ex-wife was paranoid and unreasonable about someone who really wasn't a threat to her life. It seems, though, that "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." In other words, recent events have proved that Therese wasn't a shrew: she was shrewd. Her husband didn't truly love her, he always loved Elizabeth, and so he placed Therese in a horrible situation. I'm happy for Elizabeth, and I know this strip has always gently contrasted what people say or think with what actually is true, so I hope she and Anthony will be able to have the maturity to acknowledge the mistakes they have all made in the past, and not just blame his ex-wife for being right about Elizabeth's character.

Leslie S

Why is Liz lying to Candace about her relationship with Anthony? (8/20/2007) People who are experiencing "friendship" don't promise lifetime commitment the day before, don't eagerly end a restaurant dinner immediately after the promise to... what, go do friend-stuff?

I have serious doubts about Liz's claims that she can "handle" Therese and Francie so easily. This from a woman who passive-aggressively claimed nothing was wrong when Warren broke plans with her, then childishly made "raspberry" noises at the phone. She was pretty quick to throw him away after his unforgivable sins of not being able to come visit and of actually - heaven forbid - looking at attractive models.

Not so long ago she curled up under covers in her childhood bed trying to block out the world, unable to deal with a comparatively easy young adult life without regressing to childish behavior. Let's hope she doesn't tire of this life as easily as she did Mtigwaki - then again, since the children's storylines seem to inevitably lead back to, "Stay near home and marry someone from your youth; new people betray you and new places are not where you belong," perhaps this will actually work for her.

Denise L

Very simply, I love this comic strip. Yesterday's ( Sunday, August 19th ) with Elizabeth and Anthony was just wonderful, an excellent point of reference for all folks, young and old, who are about to enter into marriage.

I have also enjoyed the story lines that relate to Shannon and April.

FBorFW is one of the two best I've ever seen-- and I've seen quite a few in my ever lengthening years.

I really hope the operational changeover anticipated this fall will not have any negative impact on this wonderful mix of story lines.

Thank you for a bright spot in my day.

Nancye B.

Dear Ms Johnston:
I'm a long-time fan of "the Funnies". I was born in 1961, so I recall when the Sunday San Fran Examiner/Chronicle, San Jose Mercury-News, etc. had the BIG panels. Strips I barely remember from my youth were: Buzz Sawyer & Roscoe Sweeney, Peanuts, Steve Canyon, Dick Tracy, Bringing Up Father, Born Loser, BC, Andy Capp,Dennis the Menace, Lil Abner, Gasoline Alley, Our Boarding House, + the serials - Mary Worth, Rex Morgan MD, and of course, Prince Valiant. I'm sure there's more I've forgotten. Hints from Heloise?
With that in mind (yes, I am a comics/comix fanboy-geek, although not as pyscho as most), I've enjoyed FBOFW since I used to read it daily at one of my early radio jobs in 1981. I've known the Pattersons so long, I remember when "Elizabarf" was the baby & when both Elly & The Doc were, uh, not QUITE as long-in-the-tooth as they are now! I've always enjoyed your plot development/sub-plots, etc., as well as the fact that the strip is never too corny or snotty. Gosh, it's so "Amercin", I often forget that it all takes place up north. I've never been across the Northern border, although I've met many good folks (especially the bikers!) from Canada.My folks went to Banff after riding Dad's '65 Panhaed Harley to Sturgis in '72, and had great stories & pix from that trip. For years, my main references to Canada were either spoofs, ala Tommy Chong/SCTV, etc, or else the late Rand Holmes' "Howard Head" comix from Vancouver that used to run in the Georgia Straight! ("Innit a good one, eh?") yuk-yuk
OK - so, the reason I'm finally writing you after all these years, is because of this week's (8/20) strip...can't believe Liz & Anthony are finally a coupie, and I'm SO glad you didn't marry her off to that cop! I did enjoy the Mitagauk (?) pieces, and hope you'll do more of that sort of thing for us "Ugly Mare-cans" down here who only know your lovely home via kd Laing, Mario Lemieux, Tom Campbell (former mayor of Vancooover), Rush, the Bachman Bros, Shadowy Men from A Shadowy Planet, kids in the Hall & The aforementioned sources.
Lastly,I wanted to mention the craziest Lady Canuck I've ver met: my beautiful, late friend Mia Gillespie from Gastown. She hipped me to much of the mainstream & underground culture of Canada. Thanks so much for your strip and for being a woman artist that I can stomach.

Seriously - I wish you continued success & thanks again for your art.

Jose S.

I'm glad to see Elizabeth and Anthony getting back together. They seemed so right together, even in high school. I have been married to my "high school sweetheart" for almost 40 years now. They can make it, too.

Lil Bit

Liz and Anthony engaged? It's about time! It should have happened a long time ago.

George

Thank you for Sunday’s strip. It reminds me that FBOFW is after all is said and done, merely a comic strip.
It does not, nor has it ever transcended the media that constrains it. I might have been fooled once or twice, that it was something more, when it dealt with issues of homosexuality or the death of a loved one, both human and animal, in a touching truthful way.
However after seeing a young couple, supposedly finding each other again then go on to coldly review checklists about things they should have known about each other long ago, if they were once truly friends, if they are now truly soul mates, and then to have the sequence end in yet another pun, instead of possessing any elements of passion, any elements of regret of past mistakes, any elements of an epic romance coming to fruition, I am sadly reminded that this is just a comic.
There will be no exploration of Anthony's character, to actually see him admitting his mistakes, his unjust treatment of his ex, his wrongfulness in those screeching words, "Promise me you'll wait," said at the worst time in both of their lives.
Nor will we see Elizabeth realize that she has been unfair in her treatment of Paul and Warren, that she played them as readily as she felt that they had played her, that she has treated her family, in particular, her younger sister, as a punching bag for her misery.
There will be no acceptance of these two that they, like the rest of us, are flawed human beings, that there are things they need to work on, that there are people whom they have hurt and have unfairly villainized.
There will not be these things, because they are not human beings, nor even a representation of human beings, they are merely two-dimensional cartoon characters spewing forth some lame gags. Thank you.

Juana M

I've been smiling all day about Anthony and Liz. At last! I've gone back to reread it at least four times. What a heartfelt and beautifully written strip -- one of the most romantic proposals of all times. I love the mutuality of the declarations; they are almost vows.

Their happiness is contagious! Thank you so much, Lynn.

Mary R

As a longtime, devoted reader (I remember Michael and Elizabeth as kids), I've been waiting for YEARS for Elizabeth and Anthony to get back together. It is such a relief- even my husband is happy as well. I ended up marrying my high school sweetheart after 9 years of being apart, and this reminds me of what we went through. Please let this happen. No more heartbreak for either Anthony or Liz.

Ashley, Virginia

Lynn, I just thought I'd tell you that I'm going to miss reading your comic strip when you stop. I have been reading ever since you first started and I now have my husband and ten year old daughter hooked too! You're the greatest. Nothing brought me greater joy when you finally got Elizabeth and Anthony together again. Every morning at the breakfast table your comic is the first one I check out. And yes, it is to see if Elizabeth and Anthony are in it. I love them all but these two, I can just feel their love for each other by the way you write it and the expressions you put on their faces. Keep up the great work. A fan forever.

Lori from Pontiac, IL

Finally, Liz and Anthony are finally going to make it. PLEASE dont spoil this for them. I have been a reader for over 9 years now, moved from the midwest to now the east coast. I faithfully read your story every day. Give them a chance, they both deserve it. Thanks.

David

"Check" is spelled "cheque" in Canada. The little play on words and homonyms is the whole point of the strip, and to my eye, the punchline was blown.

And the things they say at the end are notably untrue. Liz had to move back in with her parents afer several years of teaching (with room and board included), and therefore cannot be considered fiscally responsible. Liz made life-altering decisions while in a relationship without first consulting her serious relationship, which isn't exactly honest and sincere. Anthony held a candle for Liz while he was married, which is a long way from "respectful and faithful" in my book. Hey, everyone has flaws, but this strip pretends they didn't happen.

Also, asking for a lifelong committment? Didn't Liz say she wanted to take it slow a month just a month ago or so? Anthony does tend to keep the pressure up, huh? He previously hit on Liz immediately (within minutes) following saving her from a rape attempt.

Adam

i check fbofw online daily to keep up with your characters' journey as a family. they are most definitely not perfect, but they are human -- and that speaks to the heart.

i do hope that liz and anthony (& his daughter) become a family soon. they may be young and vulnerable, but childhood friendships make wonderful - and potentially strong - marriages. :) i've known my husband since we were 11/12; he pursued me when we were 15/16, and he married me when we were 20/21. we are now 31/32 -- married 11 years with 4 kids (ages 8-3). i am blessed to have known my husband for over 20 years; together, we have endured much and grown as one...

michael and dee are making it; perhaps liz and anthony will, as well...

Mira, Asia

I love the whole strip and am so glad that it will continue in a hybrid form.
I especially identify with Liz and am so glad that after a long, long wait that she and Anthony are finally coming together.
Sometimes it does take a long time before both people are truly ready for the love of their lives -- and as far as Paul goes, does everyone remember his reaction to his (former) girl friend's arrival.
As far Jim and Iris, there has to be some humor in the situation. I keep waiting for Elly and John to offer some respite care to help with the situation. I feel very sad for how overwhelmed Iris feels and admire her overwhelming commitment to her husband.
Thanks for letting me share!

Mary Louise S.

I have been hoping that, at some point, Lynn would be able to show a passable romance between Elizabeth and Anthony. For years, we have seen the characters wreck other relationships in an effort to be together.

Unfortunately, the strips so far have failed to produce the answer to that question. Although the characters are supposed to be lifelong friends, they are seen in Sunday's strip behaving as though they had just met on-line through a dating service. In addition, the questioning comes off as very pat, cognitive and without any real feelings from the characters.

Liz's sudden aggressiveness toward Anthony also emphasizes Anthony's passivity and blandness. She comes across as a woman absolutely terrified that she is not going to find a man, and is desperately trying to hold on to her last chance. Anthony seems as though he just needs a friend--which is quite possible as he seems to be friendless, except for his business associates and the Pattersons.

I don't see any reason to recreate the dynamics of Elly and John's marriage. Liz is obviously in training to become shrewish and demanding, and Anthony to become vague and always trying to soothe Liz's feelings or do whatever she wants just to keep the peace. Elizabeth and Anthony are also in that "comfortable as an old shoe" relationship. There may not be any passion left in John and Elly's marriage, but at least when they were younger they did seem in love. How sad that Anthony and Elizabeth already act like "old marrieds" or like a business partnership.

I have been a reader for a number of years and have most of the collections. I am disappointed that the strip is going to continue if there will be nothing interesting introduced--and no, Liz and Anthony are not interesting, as the only thing that did make that relationship interesting was only hoping that they would find someone else.

Adios to you; this reader is discontinuing reading this strip in favor of something more relevant with dynamic characters.

Martin G, Dallas

I just love that Anthony and Elizabeth have found their way back to one another. It's just so "When Harry Met Sally"! I have looked forward to the days when the strip focused on their newfound romance.So... is there a wedding in the near future?

Christine E, NY

Thanks Lynn!!!! I love the whole story line these days! I have to get my stripfix before working each morning! Thanks especially for Liz and Anthony finally getting together. Just like other readers I was crying as they went off the night of the wedding for some alone time. These needs to end with a wedding! Paul blew it and Warren did too! They don't deserve Liz!!!

Lauren O