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Hello,
I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your strip, and how much I identify with the believable characters! Being a 20-year old college student, I particularly feel "close" (as much as once can to a comic strip person, haha!) to Elizabeth as she looks to make her place in the world.
Lately, I have been touched as well by your portrayal of Jim and Iris. My grandmother is profoundly disabled, following a series of strokes that went undetected for too long, and for years I have watched my grandfather care for her, showing great love and self-sacrifice just as Iris does for Jim. My grandmother was placed in a nursing home over the summer, and as we grapple with her fading health it is a comfort to see that someone else can understand. Thank you.

Kate, Bridgewater VA

The Patterson I most relate to is Michael. I'm a new Dad of a preemie trying to figure out all the exciting and scary parts of parenthood. I look back at the past few years of strips dealing with Michael and Dee with Meri and Robin and see a lot of what I am going through. I'm about the same age as Michael and am going though the life changes and the quest of buying a house and trying to provide for a family. It has been a nice diversion over the past year to read the strip online daily while home with my son knowing that even though its a comic strip, someone else has gone through it and done pretty well. Thanks Lynn for giving me the break that I need every day.

Ernie D.S. Whitehouse Station, NJ

I just wanted to let you know how much your strip has meant to me over... well most of my life. I am just about Michael's age, and I have been reading for as long as I could. Growing up, I did alot of the things he did and my mom used to cut the strip out of the paper every time it seemed "Her life was in the strip again". I'm sure my sister and I never made that easy for her.

It was nice to know that I wasnt alone in my "Trials and tribulations" as I grew up. I cried when Farley died... I cheered when Deanna said Yes... and now Grandpa Jim. I can feel for Iris... and for Elly... and for Michael, Elizabeth, and April. I lost my Grand Parents all to Cancer a number of years ago... And now I am watching it take my mother as well. Watching the Patterson clan deal with this crisis with strength and dignity, has helped me do the same. I remind myself everyday, "If Michael can do it... so can I."

I am fortunate to have a very patient wife to lean on, and friends who let me vent and deal with it in my own way. I am also very fortunate to have your strip to remind me that life DOES go on and often for the better, IF you take the time to look for it. So Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you to you and the Patterson clan.

Dan G, Garfield NJ

I absolutely LOVE your strip! My faveorite character is April, but i'm wondering what's going on between her and Gerald. Can you give us a bit of an insight about that? It almost seems like the two have grown apart as a couple, but are still very good friends.

Sarah, Bolton CT

Grandpa Jim's illness is oh, so familiar to me, a member of the sandwich generation. Having helped to care for several family members in similar situations, I know all too well the dilemma that patients and family members go through. Assisted living? Nursing home? Hospice? How sad, and how much this story line mirrors the lives of many of us. Thanks for telling Jim's story. It is comforting to see the Pattersons pull together--and best of all, to include Iris as one of their own.

Mona P, Watertown NY

I like millions of others love your comic strip. It mirrors my life in numerous ways, I believe I am on the same time line of life as the cartoon strip!!

My favorite is when Jim and Iris are out for a walk. Jim is using a walker and can't really look up, but by looking down he finds a dime and says every day there is a treasure if you know where to look. Every since my father passed away whenever I find a dime I think of him, the comic strip was just another love message from him.

Thanks for all the wonderful years of sharing life joys and disappointments.

Joyce M, TX

Oh my, did today's strip ever touch my heart. I've followed the Patterson family since I was a kid in high school. I can still remember when John and Elly were newly married and John up and bought a sports car and how later Elly got new appliances to keep things fair. I held my breath when April went into to the river. And I bawled like Farley was my own dog when he died a hero pulling April from the water.

Come on! Who gets that attached to a comic strip?

I guess me, because today's strip out did itself in relevance. Elly's simple words to Iris, "I want to take care of YOU" was a timely reminder of what life is about. Loving others and being being there for each other.

By-the-way, I've very much enjoyed the trip down memory lane these last few weeks as Michael shared family history with Merrie.

Yvonne H, Georgia by way of Portland, Oregon

I relate to Elly. My mother had a stroke 3 years ago. We go through rehab only to have a setback. She is coming home today (!) after 4 months in a nursing home following a bout of pneumonia. I love Elly's compassion dealing with her Stepmother's feelings. Instead of fighting over the comics, someone will read FBORFW and Louann outloud at breakfast so we all get the story at the same time.

Sheila W, Catonsville, MD, USA

I relate to Elly quite a bit, in that we are about the same age, and my oldest son and April were born just days apart in April of 1991. The jokes about menopause are more relevant to me now than they were a few years ago...unfortunately!

Julie G, Akron OH

It's spooky how alike Mike and I are! We're both dreamers, not always practical, and both had our first book published recently! (Well, mine came out last December).

I'm also relating to Elly a lot these days. Not long ago, my father had a heart attack, and passed away just before Christmas. I know exactly what she's going through.

Then again, I have two kids (8 & 11), so I can relte to Dee, too!

I guess I'm a bit of all the Pattersons!

Cynthia O, Montreal

Just found your site. Nice to get my daily "fix" of the Pattersons again.

I think its really neat that You got the "Remembering Farley" foundation thing going. I bought a copy years ago and then sent it to my mom because she had to put to sleep one of her dogs. (Old age. Lots of pain) She enjoyed it alot.

6 years ago I was one step above homelessness. Lost my job, place to live and was spending Christmas in Florida on a old sailboat by myself. Christmas Eve day I was at the local libary and saw they had several copies of "Better or for Worse" books. Checked them all out and spent the night reading them.

Wanted to thank you for shining a little light in a dark time in my life.

Now, I have a job I've been at for over 4 years, a place of my own, (and the bills to go with it!) discovered I have a knack for carving, a wonderful woman who loves me, and two boys, (2nd one turns 3 months tomorrow).

Back then I couldn't imagine being where I'm at now.

Things do get it better if you give it some time.

Steven, Colorado

I relate to Shannon. I admire Shannon's spirit. Wish I could be more like her.

Amy H, Hampton VA

As a mom and grandmom, I generally relate to Elly - though as a writer, there are times I have felt Michael's pain and frustration. I can see the day I might be in Iris' shoes and long for time when I was as carefree as April.

Thank you for touching us.

Deane C, Chehalis, WA

The charactor I relate most to is Elly. I've been reading the column since the late 70's -early 80's. I've felt that Elly lived in my house with me and went through raising Michael (also my 37 year old son's name), going through hot flashes, having elderly parents, losing her mom -- so, so many things. April, is 4 mos younger than my first granddaughter so I enjoy hearing about her escapades. I am so happy that the strip will live on. I've told my daughters-in-law to start reading it because of the flash backs and raising their children. Thank you for such a wonderful way to start my mornings.

Barbara H, Maryland but born and raised in Chicago

I identify the most with Therese. I also suffered from post-partum depression, and had a husband whose emotional infidelity made it incredibly difficult to deal with. Thankfully, just like Therese, I'm now free! Kudos to your strip for portraying such a sympathetic character!

Peggy, Austin TX

Who do I relate to most? That's easy: Lawrence. We came out at about the same age (though I was several years earlier than him). I remember following his story when it first being run, and sometimes being in tears, because I easily remembered the feelings he went through. Luckily, my parents were a bit more understanding, but the fear of what they would do was the same. I also found my "Nicholas", a wonderful man, who is a bit older than me. (I often wonder how Lawrence and Nicholas dealt with the inevitable comments of how the relationship will never last because of the age difference. We STILL have people say that about us, and we've been together for almost 18 years.) With the new hybrid, I wonder if we'll see any of Lawrence's story again. Here's hoping. Thank you, Lynn, for all your wonderful stories and characters we care about so much.

David A, Clifton Heights PA

Like most female readers my age, I relate to Elly. Our children are the same age (I had my daughter first and son next) and we've shared similar experiences from sending our children off to school and into adulthood to accepting our sags and bags to supporting our parents as they've grown older and less able to care for themselves. Doing it all with a sense of humor and the love and support of a strong partner and friends makes aging gracefully a little less traumatic. (Baby boomers, after all, were NEVER supposed to get old!) The only thing I can't figure out is why Elly looks so much better than the rest of us.

Jo M, Ipsilanti MI

I most relate to DeAnna. I too couldn't wait to get back to work after I had my second child. With my first daughter I waited until she was 18 mos. old before returning to work. With my second daughter I waited until she was 6 mos. old before returning to work. I was not happy at home and I wanted to get back into the work force. I did have some guilt issues with putting my children in daycare, but I was happier when I went back to work. I think that Elly was right when she said that it is better for the children if their mom is happy at work and not frustrated and resentful staying home with them.

Jennifer M, Sacramento CA

I relate most to Elly. My [rear] isn't quite as big as hers, but I'm workin' on it.

Layla, Syracuse NY