« Thursday December 20, 2007 | Main | Letters to Lynn, part 1 »

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Lynn and all of you.
Thank you for keeping the strip going. Thank you for allowing your characters to stay true to themselves.
And thank you for this Coffee Talk corner that allows us to state opinions and get to know what others think. I agree with many people about loving to see how Anthony and Liz are coming together and I will never forgot the moment of seeing Liz kneel and hug Frannie. I think Liz began becoming a mother at that moment.
And yet the wonderful thing is I appreciate the messages from those who aren't as happy about this and other developments.
The column connects us all together in hoping the best for a family we care deeply for and that's a wonderful thing.
Happy New Year and I'll look forward to seeing the ongoing story.

Mary Louise S, Iowa

I want to share that I am realy pleased with the manner in which the strip handled Elizabeth and Theres' encounter at the mall. I think it demonstates how a person's attitudes and behaviours towards another can change dramaticly when they gain self esteem by vitue of becoming comfortable in thier own 'skin'.

In my own life I had 2 male friends-one whom I dated a number of years, another with whom I was simply very good friends with. In both cases as we moved on to other relationships I found that I was on the receiving end of some very hostile feelings and behaviours by the new women, who both went on to marry, in their lives. In hindsight I realize now that both women were insecure in their relationships and had'nt yet developed a comfortable sense of themselves either individualy or in their marriages. In both cases I was plesantly surpised to encounter them and find their attitudes had completly changed towards me. I also noticed that this change in attitude seemed to occur once they saw themselves in the 'place' they WANTED to be.

I think it's natural and a sign of Theres' being in a life more to her desires and needs (vs. those her parents or society may deem appropriate for the mother of a child) that she was civil towards Elizabeth. I would have been greatly disappointed if she had a severed relationship with her child and chose to simply 'play mommy' during the meeting and mislead her child in some misguided vengeful behaviour directed at Liz.

Gayle F, Washington State

Dec 21st Strip with the pies baking and coming out of the oven, makes me wish there were Smell-O-Strip!

Happy holidays to you, your drawing team and your families.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Lara, Chris,and Chrissa B.... (Chrissa was born just before Meredith... Can you believe they'll be 6 in 2008?)

Lara B, Santa Ana CA

What has Anthony been through, what exactly were his hardships? He has been able to get everyone and everything he wanted with next to no effort on his part. He apparently got his first job through his first girlfriend's connections. He has his current job because he never left his first job. He got his house because his boss basically handed it to him. He is now dating the woman he wanted, his first girlfriend, because all his potential rivals were too far away or conveniently passed out. He got rid of the wife he didn't want by simply ignoring her needs and desires. And it is hard to believe he ever truly loved or cared about Therese when he was sneaking off to hold hands with his ex-girlfriend before she moved, when despite Therese's openly voiced concerns he continued to seek his ex out whenever she was in town. In the end, Anthony never really had to deal with any aftermath from the divorce, he kept his home and possessions, and he apparently has had no problems with custody of his daughter not even with his former in-laws. He gets to work and have activities and date and be a parent with virtually no conflict except a smidgen of protest from his daughter, Francoise. He doesn't even have to try and win over his girlfriend's family; they already accept him as one of their own. It is very difficult to relate to a person who has never had any real struggles or known true tragedy and yet acted like he was a refugee from a war zone.

Len, California

Characters in the strip (including Elizabeth and Anthony themselves), seem to think that Elizabeth and Anthony have this amazing, meaningful friendship that has weathered the years and the miles. But I don't see this at all. They rarely talked to each other after their college break-up. They only saw each other once, maybe twice a year, and made shallow small talk, then vaguely promised to keep in touch Despite the fact that e-mail has been a big part of Liz's life, and part of her relationships, we have never seen her e-mailing Anthony, or even talking about it, not even in the monthly letters. Anthony didn't even tell Liz himself that he's gotten a divorce. Liz had to hear about it from her younger sister. After Liz moved back home, she only saw Anthony during the trial; neither made any attempt to spend time together, and never discussed his advance toward Liz ("Wait for me!") a year earlier. In fact, they just pretended like it never happened. After Liz broke up with Paul, she made no attempt to talk to Anthony, either as a friend, or as a romantic partner (as she knew full well how he felt about her). She even delayed their inevitable reunion dragging poor Warren into the mess for no real reason. Heck, I bet that's how Anthony heard about Liz's break-up with Paul--when Gordon and Tracy told him that Warren was Liz's date to Mike's party!

And now that they're together, they come off as two people on a blind date--not like a couple talking about making a lifelong commitment, and certainly not like best friends.

Kristen S., Seattle WA

Like so many others, I have been a HUGE fan of FBOFW for many years and have appreciated how uncanny and "on target" this comic strip has been. You might like to know that a few months ago our local paper revamped its entertainment section and dropped/added a number of comic strips. They made the horrible mistake of dropping FBOFW, but the protest from readers was so loud and clear that not only was it added back in within a couple of weeks, for an entire week before it came back, there was an icon ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER informing readers that their voices had been heard and the comic strip was returning! I've never seen anything like it! But meanwhile, I discovered my favorite comic on the web and make a point of reading it and your blog every evening. You might also like to know that in October while I was on vacation, I met another FBOFW fan and we used to scour our hotel lobby every day to get a newspaper so we could keep up with the latest happenings of the Patterson family!

Kay, Claremont CA

This strip is just the best. The early December ones about Anthony's young daughter are fabulous. It sends you down inside yourself to what is real.

Art K, Springfield Oregon

It's great to see Grandpa getting out! And I hope the family will help Iris take care of him so she can enjoy the holiday, too!

Minnie

The storyline about Grandpa's stroke is absolutely so true to life.
I cared for my husband after a stroke and know exactly how Iris is feeling. Only someone who has been there can truly know.

Dorothy T, West Palm Beach Florida

This may seem like a small thing, but I wanted to comment on today's strip (12/20/07). Your drawing of the "transport chair" was very accurate. I'm in the DME business and seeing the realities of aging and the growing need for vital equipment like this helps to educate the public. Thanks.

Michael J. C., California