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It's about time you heard from some more MALE readers who love your strip. My family and I have read FBorforW since it began in 1979. It always rang true as a "real" family, but with better jokes! It has been wonderful to watch the Patterson kids grow up along with my own children. I have always enjoyed the timeliness of the strip, how it was not "frozen in time." I remember the tragedies as well as the humor. I will never forget when the dog (was it Barfy?--can't remember the name) died saving one of the kids (Elizabeth? April? can't remember that either--the curse of aging I guess). [Tis "Farley"...Barfy is the dog from Family Circus] We all mourned that death and pondered on the faithfulness of the animals who are part of our lives. I had to find out what has been going on with the changes, the flashbacks. I suspected that they were the actual early strips, and I found here that that is the truth. I am excited about reliving these "old" strips and completing the current story lines, then freezing them in time. I had forgotten how downwright hilarious your early strips were. Now I remember why I--and my family--always loved FBorforW from the first appearance in the Arizona Daily Star "back in the day" as young people say. I wish you all the best in the world, Lynn.

Jeff, Tucson AZ

I was also concerned about the current status of FBOFW. Glad to hear it was a planned thing, and not due to any problems, professional or otherwise. I must say, however, I am eager to see the Liz and Anthony storyline play out. I have been rooting for those two for a long time. :)I'll keep reading!

Judy, Florida

My morning "fix" in my busy day is to turn down the edge of the page of the morning paper to read FBorFW. Then I re-read it when I get home from work. I have been reading the strip since our newspaper picked it up around the time of April's birth. It has been a comfort to watch the family grew and deal successfully with all the aspects life throws at us. As a mother near Elly's age, watching my children and hers grow into productive adults with expanding lives of their own. As a daughter, living through the loss of my Mother. As a woman, running a family, career and dealing with the various stages of aging. As an animal lover and pet owner, Farley's death hit home very hard. I can empathize with slowing down, and I appreciate the remembrances filtered in, but I will surely miss the relative aging of the Patterson's that is the very essence of life.

Donna M, New Hampshire

Dear Lynn,
I wish I could be a person who could learn how to care, how to share, how to dare, and how to have a good day. Reading your comic reminds me somehow to be a person I want myself to be, take care of myself, and to care for others. (oh, this is for before the hybrids, by the way)So thanks. Thanks a million!
Love, Mimi the cool cat teen

Mimi, WV

I, too, have been following your comic strip for a long time. Your comic kids are about the same age as my kids, so they matured to the different levels, together. Fortunately, mine turned out alright, also.

I was distressed at the change in your strip. I, too, am facing the retiring years, and this different direction makes me look at my future. I'm not ready to face this yet!

But I do understand your decisions. The fact that you did not stop cold turkey reveals to me the love you have for all of your readers.

I wish you the best in your future. May God bless you and give you the desires of your heart.

Thanks for growing up with me.

Cooky T, Memphis TN

Looking forward to each day's new strip (as I have for the past 20+ years), but I'm keeping my fingers crossed, in the hopes that "time standing still" for the Patterson's, will allow the series to remain fresh and relevant.
One of the (many) things that made FBorFW as special as it's always been, is the rather unique concept of watching the family age in real-time.
I've spent the years relating to the trials and tribulations of Michael, enjoying the world again with a fresh perspective through the eys of April, and mourned the passing (yes MOURNED) of Farley.
Attributing all future comic-endeavors to Lynn's genius, does allow me a certain level of optimism here though.
Whatever lies ahead for the family (and us, the readers), I'm sure will be entertaining, nonetheless.

Cheers....!!!

Kevin G, Baltimore MD

I have been reading about the Patterson's for what seems like FOREVER!! My older brother called me LizardBreath too, so I always felt a connection. I am getting used to the new format and I love seeing the older strips.
Thanks so much!!!

Beth, Choctaw OK

Dear Lynn,
Okay, do you draw the speech bubbles along with the words? Because I think you do, and will not rest until I find out. I love your artwork by the way! IT IS AWESOME!!!! Again, I am convinced you draw the whole comic strip. Please correct me if I am wrong! (or else that would be a really cool font to write a comic)
Love, Mimi
(p.s. where is the Q and A section?) [Right here, Mimi - thanks!. Lynn does draw the whole strip, speech balloons and lettering included. Visit our Making of a Comic Strip section to find out more!]

Mimi, WV

My mother got me hooked on the strip. I became a devoted reader primarily because my son "grew up" with April. (His birthday is March 21, 1991.) Watching April's antics through childhood gave me another perspective of him. I then took the next week catching up on the years- yes, years, that I did not read. I still cry when I read about Farley, and cheer when Anthony saved Elizabeth. I am sorry to see that the strip has changed format, but I am glad that we will not be left hanging with the major characters. What will happen to Joe? Will Lizzy and Anthony marry? Will Therese become a problem? Will Mike and Dee have number 3? I could go on and on! Stay well and keep on making me smile, think and appreciate the ones near and dear to me!

Andrea K, PA

Hi Lynn!
I grew up reading your comic strips and compilation books. I have grown up alongside Elizabeth, wondered what it would be like to have a big brother like Michael, and enjoyed sharing every new challenge and milestone that the Pattersons have had over the years, including those that mirrored my own.
I absolutely love that you've been bringing back older strips for the younger kids to find out how everyone grew up over the years, and I'm really looking forward to what happens in the new year with every member of the family.
Oh, and little Robin reminds me of my little boy in a lot of ways. :) Thank you so much again for bringing all these characters to life.

Ambyr M, Edmonton AB

I want to say first of all how much I have enjoyed every single "For Better or For Worse" cartoon over the years. I got introduced to Lynn Johnston's work from my highschool teacher (who was a big fan) in the 1970's. I have been a faithful follower every since. I look forward to my daily fix of the strip. Then when I heard that the new strips would be run with old strips as flashbacks, I was delighted!! Yesterday I had a conversation with my husband who I have been with for over a decade. We never talk about comic strips (he is an academic), so I was surprised to hear how upset he was at the thought of not seeing "For Better or For Worse" again. Then we both agreed that Lynn certainly deserves a break and should not be driven as hard...but... selfishly, we would be heartbroken to not keep up with the Patterson family and their neighbours. My husband is unfamiliar with the older strips so asked me (knowing I have followed it for years) if they were new or old cartoons. I explained that they were a mix and we both agreed that the idea was brilliant. It helps to give Lynn a break, while still keeping us all connected. Who would have thought that a comic strip could become such a central part of our lives? Thanks, Lynn, for all of these years of enjoyment. And thanks for continuing to give us needy readers more.

Diane G, Montreal QC

Thank God! Lynn is okay! I was away from reading the strips for several months, and for the past few weeks have seen only older ones. I was so afraid that something had happened to Lynn or that she was no longer going to be involved. Thank you, Lord!
[Thanks so much for your concern, Sharon!]

Sharon, Northern Ohio

Lynn,
I'm still a bit anxious about some of your plans. At age 65, I been reading Gasoline Alley and For Better or For Worse for many years and do enjoy both. I even enjoy your flashbacks as they now appear. My wife and I both began reading your strip when it first appeared in the Daily Olympian and we hadn't been married near as long as we have now.

I guess the only problem I have with your ideas is that you intend to freeze the characters in time. I don't like that idea. I've been spoiled by Gasoline Alley even though their people have seemed to age slower since I reached middle age. I age faster than they do, still Skeezix is 86 and Uncle Walt is over 100 (I would say around 108 or 109) and was widowed a few years ago. That was fine because his wife was evidently older than he was having been a military typist with the rank of Lt. in WWI.

I think I'd be happier if you would continue to age your characters and include births, marriages, divorces, aging and dying as part of a real life feature. I know this is rough on a writer when they have to eliminate a character they have come to love as a member of the family, but it is life and that's what your strip has reflected. If you freeze it, I fear you will lose some of the spontanious beauty of the strip.

Facing our own ages (mine and yours) is sometimes hard. Surely we both know that our time is shorter than it was in the past and maybe it is time to begin preparing much younger apprentice in continuing the feature. I know my daughter who was born March 30, 1977, loves the strip and looks forward to the time either Elizabeth or April are raising their kids as the main theme of the strip with occassional flashbacks to Elly's life. I know that won't happen in either your or my lifetimes because I'll probably be gone before you. But when we are both gone, Elly will be too because you are our Elly.

I won't complain too much about your plans but will express my views. May God bless you and keep you safe in his hands and may you outlive me by at least 50 years.

Don B, originally Missouri and for over 40 years from Washington state

I'm not sure....I NEED more of the now "going ons". I have been a fan since the beginning. My daughter passed away..My son passed away. I want to see Liz and Anthony and Michael and Deanna go on living. Guess I am just a bit nuts, but For Better or Worse is the first thing I turn to every day.
Thank you

Zona S, TX

This is a conversation between me and a friend I have who is a newspaper editor.

C: do you know why "For Better or Worse" is running old strips while g-pa is ill, and everything is begining o roll?
S: nah, actually, the artist probably is on vacation
C: it's been on and off for a few months i was wondering if you'd heard anything
C: going to the official site to see
C: i AM online you know
S: hmm, maybe the artist is having some problems
C: Wow she has a whole link titled what's up with FBoW Just for me! lol The first two sentences are :"If you're wondering what's up with FBorFW, well, you're not alone! FBorFW is now a mix of selected strips from the past and newly drawn panels that will help reintroduce favourite storylines."
S: hahahaha!
C: lol
C: Hey this comic is my age!
C: I want them all
S: interesting =D
C: it's a comic that has made me cry happy and sad tears
S: It's really good, and overlooked bymost people
C: like when farley died
S: i know, so sad ;.;
C: the new style works i just worried she was having troubles of her own and needed filler
C: funny i was worried enough about someone i didn't know to look her up lol
S: lol

I like the comic enough to care. I knew when i typed that I had to let you know somehow how much this strip means to me. I am glad you're trying a new style and not having major issues. Stay safe healthy and above all happy.

Thank you for the glimpse into the pattersons

Chandra P, Hurst TX