« News Article in the Kansas City Star: Lynn Johnston’s ‘For Better or for Worse’ will continue in flashback form | Main | Tuesday's Mail »

As many of your other fans, I have followed the comic strip for years. My oldest is about Michael's age; my youngest is 17 and is just starting college. A couple of my favorite strips from way back when were the one where Michael was putting dirty socks on the doorknobs (all of them!)and the one where (I think) Elizabeth commented on your so-called mending basket. Mine also seemed like a place where I stored damaged clothing until they outgrew it. Many of your strips have touched a nerve -"for better or for worse"!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.

Denise B, Northern Indiana

I love the new format!! All those strips I remember from when I was a kid, all those stories... like the one from today about Michael not sharing his candy.

I think it's great that a new generation will be able to learn to love the Pattersons. I think that FBOFW has a timeless quality to it which will translate really well to future readers.

Maia D, Halifax, NS

Hi Lynn,

I've been following your comic for most of my life as it goes beyond my years, but I'm a little upset that you are freezing your characters in time. I have always wanted to see April go to College and grow into a young woman, a bit like Elizabeth. I wish you would reconsider freezing the characters ages until April is fully grown as well! I think her next setp in life resonates more with me then any of the other characters, and I have always wondered what sort of choices she will have to make about her future. I also am eager to see what happens with Liz and Anthony, but don't forget about April!

Gillian, Colorado

Hi,
I just read your Sunday comic of the little leaf collector.. very cute. :) I thought of a project you could give a child that does that.
Have him or her put the leaves they collect into a bucket and clean up the twigs, etc. from the floor.
While they're doing that, get a piece of construction paper and a bottle of glue.
Have the child get one leaf from the bucket, you put glue on the back of it, and they choose a spot on the construction paper to put it. Then repeat this until all of the leaves are used up. Then hang it on their bedroom wall to show off their artistic style. I'd suggest sliding it into a frame with a cover, so when the leaves turn brown, they don't crumble all over the place.
What do you think?

Paul, San Francisco

I must say that i enjoy FBorFW and have for many years. I grew up in Oakville, Ontario in the early '60s before moving to Calgary and then to Vancouver. I came to the States in 1972 and FBorFW has been my touch of Canada that I have held on to all these years. You are a Canadian treasure and deserve to be recognized in parliament.

George G, millers ferry, Alabama

Hi, all

I couldn't help noticing all the comments recently about Elly's HAIR, especially where the past strips meet the newly drawn reconstructions, and thought it time that a gay man weigh in on the subject! I remember quite vividly how the gals in the 70's wore their hairstyles, and whether it was the Joan Baez straight look or the Farrah Fawcett flip, many times a girl would gather it up in the back with one of those oval leather pieces that secured with either a 5 inch flattened plastic pin or a narrow wooden dowel smaller than a pencil... I don't think I remember what they were called, but were quite popular. Even Streisand would put up her perm - think "The Main Event" or the cover of her "Greatest Hits Volume 2" album cover. Girls would regularly put their hair up for an evening out or a noon-hour baseball game! The point is, a person rarely keeps their hair the same way - we don't keep "trademark styles" for long in real life - both guys and gals will do something different for a special event or simply for a change for a day. The earlier strips mostly show us Elly as a mom at home, and we are now being treated to seeing her at university, dating her husband, and other events that probably stimulated her desire to be attractive or dressed up. I'm surprised that people assume that a cartoon character needs to look the same way forever - people change, fashions and styles change... We celebrate how this strip reflects reality in all it's variety - let's not put Elly in a box and detract from her humanity over something so trivial!!

P.S Tell Lawrence the maple syrup should be good next spring, and that he and the rest of the Patterson gang are welcome to come and spend a sunny day up in the forest! My best to you all, especially during this current "time of change" -

Christopher M, Golden Valley, Ontario and Toronto

Dear Lynn - I have loved your cartoon family as my own for decades. When Tracy and Gordon discovered each other, I prayed for my best friend to discover me (we've now been married for 11 years). Although in my teens, I was scared off of parenthood by Michael's youthful antics, I ended up becoming a parent the same time he did. I shared the trials and joys of pregnancy with Deanna, and my son was even born on the same day as Meredith.

Having tracked my life against yours for so long, I wondered if the real world would get frozen in time this month.

Know that the prayers and love of millions of fans go with you always.

Cynthia C, Raleigh, North Carolina

It brought tears to my eyes to read that the stories of a family I have loved for so long, and who's lives has often mirrored my own, will be winding down in the near future.

I was most oved when following the surprise pregnancy with April, and her most delightful homebirth, as the morning she was born at home, I was both pregnant with my second and attending a homebirth as a midwife. That Sunday episode will always stay with me, the simultaneous homebirths of April and Anna! (One unplanned, one very much planned!)

In recent years, my daughter Olivia and I (April's peer) have delighted in getting our daily strip fixes together, and cheer on Liz and Anthony together. Thank you for both wonderful and challenging stories, for highlighting the silliness of siblings and family life, and for Ellie's great smile first thing in the morning.

May your retirement be of short duration and very blessed (perhaps a creative respite!). And may all your days be like crisp, sunny September morns - full of promise and reflection.

God bless you Lynn Johnston, for you have blessed us with your humor and poignancy these many years.

Katherine, Southern Oregon

Dear Lynn,

Thank you for being the comic core in my life. I started reading FBFW with my Mum when I was in elementary school. Since then my Mum and I have been avid fans. Michael Patterson is the mirror image of my brother Michael and I see a lot of myself in Liz. While the strip was and is fictious somehow you were writing about us.

FBFW is a central to much of my life. Its tradition for me to give my Mum the latest FBFW collection each Christmas. As an adult, I start each day with a "strip fix" and FBFW is the only personal bit of web surging I allow myself at the office each morning. Its sort of a reward for successfully making it through my email and voicemail. And when times get tough, I reread the whole collection in order starting with "I've Got the One More Washload Blues." (My copy was just $7.95 and the price sticker is dated November 1981.) I never grow tired of your work, Lynn. Thank you for sharing your amazing gift.

There's been so much discussion of late about the strip (and I'm really enjoying Coffee Talk for even more opinions)! Anthony & Liz, the new hybrid strip and so on. Please remember you have your extended FBFW family (your readers) to cheer you on.

Now, we've actually met twice although I'm certain you wouldn't remember. Once was at Book Expo Canada back in 1993 ... we passed each other in the long coridor at the Vancouver Trade & Convention Centre. I knew instantly who you were and wanted to say hello but you had a bit of a post-book-signing exhausted look about you so we just exchanged smiles. The second time we met was at The Word On The Street in Vancouver in 2005. You were signing lithographs in support of Literacy BC. #643 says "for Angela!!" in your handwriting and is a framed treasure next to my desk at home. I hold out hope that one day we will meet and have time for a longer coffee chat. I think you'll find that we're kindred spirits.

Now I've got to sign off and play with my family ... my wonderful husband and our one year old son. Perhaps the flashback version of FBFW is particularly appropriate for me now that I'm experiencing all the joys and trials of being a mum myself.

With deep apreciation & heartfelt thanks, Angela

Angela C, Port Moody, BC, Canada

Lynn: As an occasional cartoonist myself, I have admired your drawing and originality ever since you were a student(?) at McMaster and I saw your work on a program about some new ideas in medical education (specifically pharmacology, my field)when I spoke at a conference in Hamilton many years ago. I have followed your strip ever since it became available in VA papers and then online.

Des G, Wintergreen VA

I have just turned 32 years old and have realized that do not know life without For Better or for Worse. My mother used to read the comic to me when I was little and I loved that one of the characters was my age...and then to my surprise, unlike Charlie Brown, they grew up just like me. I now read about the Pattersons every day on line and call up my Mother to discuss the relationships, trials, laughter, mistakes and triumphs. When I realized that it was mortal my heart sank realizing that it had an end. I thank you for the stories. I felt like you were writing about me. My only regret is that my John Robert will not be able to grow up with Robin and have the same experience that I did.
Thanks for all the laughter and tears.

Megan L, Charleston IN

I respect your desire to retire or at least slow down, BUT DON'T YOU DARE GYP US OUT OF A WEDDING BETWEEN ANTHONY AND ELIZABETH!!!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!! Their story line is what got me back to reading the strip four or five years ago -- my paper doesn't carry it, and I saw it visiting my parents in Florida. That was the wistful good by at the bus station after Christmas. I then started reading FBOFW on line. So, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE -- A WEDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. -- you are still so beautiful and young looking, I cannot believe you are 60!!!!!!!! Really!!!!!!!!!!!

Jane S, Manhattan