« Tuesday December 18, 2007 | Main | Thursday December 20, 2007 »

About that Liz and Anthony relationship. Maybe they're meant to live a simple life, we can't all be Indiana Jones. I don't know if that saying exist in english, but in french we say "You can't have the butter and the money of the butter". If that relation ends, I wonder what kind of man would fit Liz, he'd have to be the butter and the money of the butter. Or maybe, Liz don't know what she wants, the butter or the money. When this story is conclude, it would be interesting to have Madame Johnston's opinion on the this. Merci.

Gaetan D, Quebec City QC

I've enjoyed knowing the Patterson family for years. However, I must comment today when reading of the "significant other" coming for Christmas dinner. My daughter is having her "significant other" for the first time this year - not so remarkable a coincidence, yes? But consider: my father-in-law had a stroke that took his expressive language and I have marveled at the touching and realistic manner this has been handled; I have just recently signed a contract for my first book and have so identified with the feelings of Michael with his success. My daughter moved over a thousand miles away to work - I've agonized with the Pattersons. My eldest son married and has given us grandbabies - again the reality, good and bad, has been portrayed so beautifully. That's it. I have felt warmed and validated, I've cried and laughed aloud, I've been able to see so much of our family life in this strip and I just want to say to Lynn, Thank You.

Benjamin F, Upland California

35 years ago I "surrendered" my newborn baby girl for adoption. Her Father and I both agreed we had too many "issues" ( I hate that word, but it seems all the rage these days) in our lives to let us provide a stable home for her. We went together to the appropriate agencies before her birth, filed relevant information about ourselves, and --after she arrived -- both held her, kissed her and wished her well, asking only that she not think too badly of us once she was old enough to "understand".

I have never, ever regretted that decision. Perhaps if people would stop seeing Therese as "cold", "selfish" and "uncaring" --things I was regularly called once I had made it clear I wasn't keeping our (as yet unborn) daughter--there'd be fewer helpless babies thrown into dumpsters!

Anna M, Winnipeg MN

It seems that the Liz and Anthony thing is drawing the biggest protest against the strip since Lawrence came out of the closet 14 years ago. Do you want to have a mini repeat of that again? Heed the warnings from the readers. Stop the relationship while its ahead. Dont let your wonderful comic fall to pieces at the end. Correct it.

Peter, Maple Ridge BC

I love this comic strip and currently my favourite character is Liz. The storyline this week was great, though I would like to learn more about Therese. Francie recognised her, therefore does Therese visit? Does she actually give her the presents? Does Anthony tell Francie that the parcel came from her mom and point to Therese's picture? It would seem to me that the answer to at least one of these questions is yes. I think Therese is just cut out to be an aunt, not a mom. She loves to send gifts, visit, say hi at the mall, but not keep her. Unfortunately, Therese is Francie's mother, not her aunt.

I can see Liz marrying Anthony and becoming Francie's stepmother and de facto Mom, while Therese remains Aunt Mommy. Francie might miss her mother less when she has a mother figure and maybe little brothers and sisters! Or perhaps there will be a great teen novel starring Francie written in the near future.

Can we have more about Therese, please? Maybe she and Liz can have a chat at some point to resolve issues.

Katia K, BC

It was so good to see today that Mike still holds his in-laws in humourous contempt. Mike and/or Deanna threw the Sobinskis out of their apartment in Toronto on 3 separate occasions. Is it too much to hope that we are going to see them thrown out of Deanna and Mike's new home? You know, that Sharon Park Drive house is not going to seem like a real home to them, unless they do it.

Paul S, Oro Valley CA

Being a single guy and 32-years-old, I can't directly relate to the situation with Francie and her mother. However, an experience tonight made me appreciate the storyline.

For the past few years, I've played Santa Claus for little kids... foster kids, pre-schools, etc. I try to have a little fun, talk it up, bring some little toys, etc. It's usually a pretty fun event.

This evening I visited a foster-care center (second year in a row). There were about 35 kids - some foster kids, some in the adoption process, and some biological.

I had a line of kids waiting to talk to me, and my "elves" were handing out gifts to the boys and girls. One little girl came up to me... dark-hair, glasses, very slender. She was probably eight or nine. I asked her what she wanted for Christmas, and she said "Well... I have to whisper it." So I leaned over, and this soft little voice said "I want my mommy back."

It tore my heart up... I didn't know what to say. So, I just looked at her and said "I know, honey. Your mommy misses you too." I gave her a dolly, she hugged me, and off she went.

Throughout the evening she checked back with me... was her mom okay, had her mom been good this year, and other questions. I have no idea if the mom is living, in jail, or what.

In short... I now understand the loss Francie must feel. We can't imagine it until it's put right in front of us.

Sorry for the rambling, but I just wanted to share an experience that really moved me.

Thank you all!

Jim I, Bloomington IN

Dear Lynn,
Today's comic (Diana telling Merideth about "presents") so reminds me of one of my all-time favorite strips! Ellie was going to lunch or something with friends for her birthday and Lizzie asked her if she would receive presents. El replied to her, "Liz! those ARE presents." Referring to her friends.
I had it on the inside of the kitchen cupboard where I had a lot of special cut outs and stuff. When we moved, they all had to come down, and most did not make it they were so old and worn. But I always cherished that one because I have 8 dear friends, keep photos of each of us, taken at various times, in my "office" here...I would love it if you could work this oldie into a newby!
I pray your health is fine and wish you a Merry Christmas.

Maxine D, Everett WA

Mira's coming to dinner... Mira's coming to dinner!!

Oh goodie.... a little "spice" for the holiday!

;)

C D C, Chehalis, Washington State

My boyfriend and I visit each of our families on Christmas, so I don't find it beyond belief that Anthony would find time to visit Elizabeth's family. He is obviously considered family there as well, so I look forward to seeing a strip reflecting that. :)

I thought Meredith looked a lot like Elizabeth in today's strip! Very cute!

Dawn, South Carolina

Here's a thing that bothers me. Therese looked Francie in the eye and gave her answers she could understand and she's a teerible mother and a rotten human being. Deanna gave Meredith a jokey answer that sailed over her head and made her feel stupid and she's a great mom. What's the deal with that? Francie may feel bad but she doesn't feel dumb so she's better off than Merrie, I'd say.

Anonymous, Southern New Brunswick

It is just totally not right to have Anthony and Francoise have Christmas with the Pattersons. As someone else said, their relationship has just started. If Francoise already feels as though Elizabeth is monopolizing her father, this should certainly re-inforce that idea. Instead of spending the holidays with her blood grandparents, she is forced to spend time with Dad's girlfriend's family.

But of course, Anthony has demonstrated that he has no interests, no friends and no life outside of Elizabeth. His obsession destroyed his marriage, and he will now let it destry his daughter's life.

Deb, Texas

From the beginning I felt that Anthony "fell" for the beautiful, successful Therese when he was convinced he had no chance with Elizabeth. He moved on, but with so little encouragement from Therese, who was quite smart enough to see his lingering fondness for Elizabeth,things fell apart.

We don't know what Therese saw in Anthony, but it possibly was a "jailbreak" marriage so she could get away from her demanding parents with a "safe" guy. I've seen such marriages actually work, if there is real attraction and some love to start with, but not this time.

Therese was dominated by her parents and Anthony was dominated by Therese. It was a set of dominoes set up to fall.

Beba, Maryland

It takes all kinds of people to make this world work. Different skills are within each of us. Sometimes parent skills just are not there. Better to give the job to somebody who wants it and can deal with the daily needs of a young child.

Therese is not evil or even bad. I think maybe the very hard job of dealing with a child just simple was more than she could deal with. Then when you add in that she felt that Anthony did not truly love her, but somebody else - Therese left to make her own life. Ok.. so what she did, many would say was not correct but she did not leave the child on the street but in the hands of somebody - the father! So what? The male in this picture had more mommy skills than the female. I have seen men leave their children all the time and few think they are evil. Therese knew he wanted the job and would take good care of the little child.

Think of the sad life Therese and Anthony would had with the child had the unhappy mom (and dad) just stayed put just cause she was a female. What kind of life would that had been for the little girl?

I read back over the old strips and felt the break up between Therese and Anthony was maybe the best thing for all. He seems very happy to have Liz in his arms, so much even the little child knows something is up.

I feel that when Francie comes to the understanding that Liz is NOT replacing her in "daddy's heart", things will be ok with her. It just takes time to see that Liz is supporting the "heart" not shoving her out.

Patricia M, Starkville Mississippi

Dear Lynn,

I am so disappointed with the way you ended the Therese storyline. You were so close. All you had to do was give Therese one little moment, one genuine flash of anger or pain as she realized that Anthony had gone straight to Elizabeth just as Therese had always suspected, and you could have saved it. I would have accepted all of Therese's failings after that - her selfishness, her infidelity, the pain she caused her daughter, all parts of a flawed but relatively well-rounded character.

Instead, Therese arrives just long enough to admit utter defeat in front of her daughter, her ex-husband, and the saintly Elizabeth Patterson, and exits the scene in shame. The only spark of human feeling she is allowed - the only thing a woman like her deserves - is overwhelming guilt and misery.

You've ruined it for me. Therese isn't a character at all, she's just a feeble plot contrivance to shove Elizabeth and Anthony together, and a thinly-veiled insult at the kind of women who don't meet with your approval.

Christine, Wellington NZ

Lynn:

First of all, thank you for many years of laughter, and some really wonderful insights into human nature. My husband and I love your strip, and read it on the net every day before work.

Secondly, if Therese has been portrayed as "evil", one must bear in mind that we have seen her so far largely from Anthony's point of view, with it's hurt and Liz's which contains a fair degree of indignant anger...after all, Therese hurt one of her dearest friends. Now we may be given the chance to see Anthony's "ex" through her own eyes, which would be an interesting tack. I interpreted Therese's "NO!" as dismay at her daughter's seeing her...not the other way around. She may be wanting to drift away from the little girl because of self-hatred that won't allow her to believe that she deserves her precious daughter's love. Maybe she feels Francie is better off without her. Yet she sends her presents...is that because in the deepest part of her heart she can't bear to completely let the child go? Conflicting emotions...don't we all struggle with them?

So might we catch a small glimpse of the real person behind the beautifully made-up mask? Who knows what tender feelings she may be hiding from the world and from herself as well. The current story arc is the perfect vehicle to bring a new dimension to Therese's character.

Keep up the good work!!!
"For Better or For Worse" is awesome!!

J Hill, Camden AZ

I have to say reading the latest FBorFW has hit home with me. I have three step children whose mother had walked out on them. I know exactly how Liz feels as I go through it when thier mother has a "twinge" and decides to visit the children. It usually is twice a year for a couple of days then they don't hear from her again until she feels the need to be a "mother"... I feel extremely sorry for Francoise since she is so young and it's hard for children to understand that sometimes adults just can't behave like adults. I am interested in how you will proceed with the rest of the story line. Good Work Lynn, I've enjoyed FBorFW since Liz and I were little!!!

Liz, North Haverhill NH

Lynn,

A truly remarkable job with the comic strip! To see other readers get drawn into the story lines is unbelievable, especially the Liz, Anthony, Francoise and now Therese story. An excellent yarn! Worthy of a Pulitzer Prize.

I've been a devout reader for the past couple of years. To this day, I cannot start my day until I have a chance to catch up with FBORFW. to you and your team, keep up the good work.

Mike K, California