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After reading the comments it's wonderful how a semi-fictional family can bring such a range of emotions from all over the world. We are all tied together by the love of and for the Patterson family. Great job will done by Lynn and team. I still cry when I read about Farley.

Janice A, Columbus MS

They must be a Canadian delicacy, but I've never encountered them in my trips north over the border. What is a butter tart? (Sounds like they're delicious!)

Karen M, Owego NY USA

Karen, we were shocked and sorry to hear that butter tarts aren't a universal treat! If you picture a really small pecan pie, with or without pecans, that's basically what a butter tart is. Some people like them with raisins or walnuts or other fillings, but at its most simple a butter tart is a pastry shell containing a heavenly gooey mixture of brown sugar, eggs and butter. There's a recipe here that looks promising.

I just had to write in and tell you how much I love today's strip. Such a wonderful example of maternal love. I always make my daughter her favorite foods when she comes home from camp. I can tell how much Elly loves and missed April. Kudos to you, Lynn for keeping your characters true to life and showing there is something wonderful about the ordinary moments of a loving family.

Jennifer, New Mexico

I'm just wondering??? Was there ever a Farley Italian charm. I have all of you, and because Farley was such a great dog (and we do love our dogs), I would love to add him to my charm bracelet.If you do or did where can I get mine????
We love the Pattersons, with out them, It just wouldn't be the same.
You just keep doing your story line like you always have. We have great discussions about how things go from day to day. We all have ideas how we would handle the problems. And then get a big laugh because, after all it is a comic strip, not real life. However, it does mirror real life.
Just keep up the great job that you have done all of these years.

Donna G, Wyoming

Sorry Donna - we do have an Edgar charm, but no Farley (yet, anyway - you never know!)

This is by far the best comic strip out there today. My family and I often discuss them as if they were part of our family and what we would do in the same situations. Elizabeth and Anthony belong together, and have since grade school. Therese was a necessary part of Anthony's growing up. As for Liz, I think she is truly more happy being home with her family and exploring this new relationship. To say that she is "boring" is just not true, she's a young woman trying to figure out what she wants from life. Staying in Mitigwaki was good for a while, but if was definately time for a change. I'm pulling for a wedding in the next year or so. I don't think that Mike would agree that his life with Deeanna and his children is anything but stagnant. There is so much to learn as a yound parent and his writing is coming along fine. He has a strong relationship with Dee and I see it lasting a very long time. I do wish Jim would get some of his functions back, I hate to see Iris huring so and feeling so helpless. I am SO looking forward to going into the past, there were some great life lessons learned. The Patterson's are a real life family, with real life joys, sorrows and great love for each other. Lynn, kudos to you for creating a family that grows with the times and is so easy to connect with.

Kim, Pennsylvania

I love fborfw and have been following since I was about 8 years old.

Lately though I've felt frustrated by the decisions of some of the characters. Dee was a beautiful, exciting lady at one point, with all kids of interests and ideas. Now I see her as one thing, only: a mom. What happened?

I feel that Liz is walking down the same path. This forced storyline with Therese this past week is painful. It really makes Anthony look even more whiny and useless. I don't understand Liz' decision at all. I feel like you're trying to make it look like Therese's fault, but her character does not make a lot of sense, either! Most educated women wait until they are over 30 to have kids. So why is "career woman" a bad word in fborfw? I clearly remember Mike neglecting his wife and kids while he tapped away at his computer (Dee waited patiently until he had a moment). Why this dichotomy? Consider letting Liz be single for awhile. Sometimes it takes time to figure out what one wants, and it seems she may be making a mistake here.

Jennifer, Vancouver

This may sound rather odd, at least initially. The response from your readers concerning your characters and plot development spans the whole intellectual and emotional spectrum, from outrage and condemnation to support and praise. Your medium of expression, the comic strip" has raised the genre into the category of significant, perhaps great English literature. Your "holding the mirror up to nature" is more than simply entertainment for its own sake, important as that is. YOur characters and situations will be as worthy of social debate and even academic commentary as was Shakespeare's Shylock or Milton's Satan, for example.

Your work inspires us to look within ourselves, and also around us, to test our own values, beliefs and perceptions.

You should be nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature!

John, Ontario

Lynn and crew, I just wanted to thank you for the past 22 years when I've read your script everyday! I feel like I'm checking in with members of my family every morning after I turn on my computer, and have really enjoyed seeing the characters bloom over the years. You have created a beautiful family; not perfect, facing challenges, struggling with choices, experiencing heartbreak as well as success--but your creation will live on in fans all over the world. I can't wait to share your scrip with my own children in the years to come.

On an even more personal note, as the daughter of a dentist and a mom that stayed at home before opening up her bookstore--folks that let my siblings and I have so many pets!--I've always enjoyed the similarities in our lives with the Pattersons. Mom and Ellie sold their shops the same month, and Dad sold his practice in June. They, like the Pattersons, enjoy their grandchildren, each other, and their hobbies. It makes me smile to know that a whole new generation of readers will get to know the Patterson family! Thank you...I look forward to reading FBOFW for many, many years to come!

Marc K, Pennsylvania