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I have followed your family since the 80s. I had just discovered that cartoonists published collections and kept haunting the used book stores until I had all your books from the start, then kept up as the years went on. As a social worker, it has been gratifying to see real family dynamics--for better or for worse--played out in your strip. No one in the popular media has done better at showing how complicated issues like child abuse can be. I think of Gordon when I work with kids whose lives are like his when he was a teen, and it gives me hope that people can change.

Kathryn, North Carolina

More things to do for Grandpa Jim:

Iris, take some "ME Time" once in a while and Go Shopping! Stop in at the Novelty stores and pick up some inexpensive "just because" presents for Jim -- a zany Bumpersticker for his wheelchair, a ball cap with a cheeky slogan (to crack up the nurses), a push puppy he can pet --you get the idea. Maybe even one of those rubber-ball "horns" he can squeeze to signal his contentment (or lack thereof). No, it ain't traditional therapy --but if he sees you still are having "fun" being with him, who knows what good it may do you both??

Excuse the typos -- these new bifocals are taking me a while to "adjust to"....!

Anna M, Winnipeg

Dear April,
Are you going to dump Gerald or not? He seems to be traveling down the same road as Becky. I think it is alright for you to break up the band. You should pursue your dreams! Also, I side with you for being mad at Liz for giving away your prized harmonica that you gave to her and for giving it back to a student who invaded privacy and a sentimental keepsake. Still, I wish I had a big sister (only three goofy big brothers) so be grateful!!
Love, MIMI

Mimi, West Virginia

It is hard for me to put into words how much FBOFW means to me. I feel like I grew up with Elizabeth and Micheal. My grandma introduced me to the strip when Elizabeth was a baby. She cut out the "Mom, Elizabeth is lookin' at me!" strip and put it on her refrigerator where it remained for 3 decades! I lost grandma in 2005 and grandpa followed this April. Seeing some of the retro strips in Michael's stories recently was such a gift. They take me back to my many happy summers at my granparent's farm with grandma's cut out comic strips and other terrific memories. Thank you!

Melissa M, Dayton OH

I do agree that are more prostive posting of elizabeth and tony. I wrote email twice abiut how i hate those to togrther not one of my email was used. Like i said look at this web site maybe once a month just to see if you listen and also posted all the emails not just yhe ones that you are trying to show how everyone like tony anf elizabeth

L S, Green Bay

Iris, Elly, for Pete's sake do something to raise Grandpa Jim's spirits!! Put a copy of Michael's book on the nightstand and read a little to him every now and then. Have April record some songs and play them for him. Get him apair of beautiful "bed slippers" hand-made by Liz's friends in Mtigwaki, and tell him where they came from. Decorate the walls of his room with Robin's and Meredith's "Art"....!

Forget the "home made pudding", Elly. Cook Jim some prime rib and run it through the b;ender with plenty of "juice". Arrange for a veteran to visit -- an old friend from the Legion, or, better yet, a young soldier back from Afghanistan who atill thinks of Jim and his generation as "heroes".

Will all these things help Jim? Will he respond Who knows. But just doing them will surely help YOU!

Annie M, Winnipeg

I can still remmeber the first FBOFW comic strip I ever read, in which Elly wondered if feminists were afraid of the dark.

My mom and I have enjoyed this strip for many years, starting when I was a teenager, and Liz was a baby. Years later when I had children, they would do things I remembered Liz and Michael doing in the strip. It helped me keep my sense of humor and my sanity!

Once my husband came home and told me it was a jungle out there. I told him it was a zoo at home, and would he like to switch? Much later, I realized Elly had said the same thing to John once.

Thanks for the fun. Please keep the new strips coming as often as you can. My twelve-year-old daughter loves them too!

Karen C, New Hampshire USA

I've been reading this wonderful strip since the beginning when I was April's age and now I have a daughter her age, lol. Lynn one request..would you PLEASE allow Elly to be comfortable in her own skin? I agree with the reader that said leave her hair alone, but its kinda sad to see Elly still worrying about her wobbly bits like she did when she was in her 20-30's. She's birthed three children for God's sake and that's an amazing and miraculous. John loves her just the way she is and its way PAST time for Elly to love herself unconditionally. Thanks for reading this.

Nikki J, Modesto CA

It's nice to see that April, who has high academic aspirations, is finally subjected to a normal 11th grade work load. I have a daughter who is just a few days "older" than April, and does hours of HW every night. If April really wants to be a vet, she'd better plan on getting into a highly competitive undergrad program. She should be taking AP courses and, as other posters have said, she'd better have a nice extracurricular resume as good grades won't guarantee admissions to a top school.

Jean K, Long Island NY