« Letters to Lynn, part 5 | Main | Friday January 4, 2008 »

I may be repeating several of your readers, but I had to pipe in with a few comments:

1. Neither Therese nor Anthony is a bad person. They've just made mistakes. Therese made the mistake of marrying a man who wanted someone who would be a more traditional wife and mother. Anthony made the mistake of marrying someone he did not know well, because he wanted someone else he thought he could not have. They are now trying to make their way the best they can.

2. The scene with Elizabeth, Therese, and Francie at the mall was perfect! The tension between all parties, the awkwardness between Therese and Francie, Frnacie wanting to see more of her mother - all very realistic. I don't think Therese is an ogre - I think she made the mistake many people make - having a child she didn't want. Now, she has to figure out how to make the best of it.

3. I do hope Elizabeth and Anthony marry and all that good stuff, but NOT YET! Considering all the issues involved, they could REALLY benefit from some pre-marital counseling - they've both been battered, and counseling could help them heal those wounds.

Nikki, Memphis TN

A long time ago, I came across a collection of your work in a book titled, "It's the Thought That Counts..." at a yard sale. I bought it, and started an addiction that has lasted more years than I can count.
Today, I wanted to send my support to you for the Anthony/Liz storyline. I am SO glad to see the two come back together. I disagree with the consensus that Anthony was emotionally unattached to Therese, and that this led to the failure of their marriage. I don't think Anthony had the ABILITY to be emotionally detached. But Therese thought she could change her ultimate goals of partnership/career to that of stay-at-home-mom. She thought she could change ANTHONY. She was elegant and sophisticated, a singer, dancer, played piano. What HUGE shifts that must have been for her, to cave in to her parents, try and settle for a 'domestic life.' How unstructured she must have felt. The struggle must have been overwhelming, for her to decide her career/herSELF needed to be satisfied, before she could ever give that emotional connection to someone else. And post-partum depression to boot. She just never connected with the laid-back lifestyle Anthony knew. But to then have an AFFAIR with a coworker, too? I also understand Anthony not fighting/depressing over it; when you spend so much time in a relationship that clearly isn't what you'd hoped, what is there to fight for? I think he thought they would grow to love each other, and it just didn't happen.
Nor did Liz didn't encourage Anthony: she left the wedding early, knowing how Therese felt about her. She made other avoidances. When she moved back home, after spending time out on her own, to find herself, their friendship resumed. Anthony needed someone to talk to about the failure of his marriage, and Liz was receptive. Liz needed someone to talk to about the failure of her relationships, and Anthony was there. Fate is fate is fate. I got a little tear in my eye when Liz said on Dec 27th strip, "Let's go home," after Anthony parked in front of her apartment. Maybe I'm naive, but I hope it all comes together for them. Love is a gift and we should all be so lucky.

Shannon, Joliet IL

I hate Iris for the reason I'm supposed to like her: because she is happily throwing the rest of her life away to care for a guy she's been married to for what, ten years?, who has an able-bodied daughter living in the same town, apparently so that the able-bodied daughter can be free to enjoy HER retirement in the way she sees fit.

I wish Iris would act like a semi-real person and divorce Jim. She doesn't owe him any debts she hasn't already paid in full. Big fricking deal if the Pattersons cluck their tongues and make her out to be evil for doing what they've already done (abandoning Jim.) They don't appreciate her anyway.

Iris, please: Drop Jim off at Elly's and start your new life. You don't need this crap. I'd feel completely differently about it if you and Jim had been together for fifty years and raised kids together. Right now, you are just a full-time nurse who was stupid enough to marry a shaky old man a few years back. Tell the Pattersons it's their turn to care for Jim, and don't worry yourself for one second over what they are saying about you behind your back. Just go.

John

Dear Ms. Lynn,
I could not resist posting a little note just to tell you how much I have enjoyed your strip since I first started reading it - way back in 1979 in the Florida Times Union. One of my most precious memories is reading that strip at the dining room table with my mother, especially the memory of her laughter. It was fresh, funny, and a way for this then newly minted adult son to build an adult connection with my Mom.

When you started having the Patterson family move forward in time, it was purely wonderful; over the years, I had moved far away from home and our close knit little family. Mom and I would speculate on "future" happenings with your characters, and would often use the strip as an excuse to call each other. Even my father would enjoy the happenings of your characters with my mother.

Very very special indeed. Now, with my father gone 7 years, and my mother gone a little over 5 years, I think of them each time I read your strip. I especially enjoy when you reprint strips that I occasionally remember laughing about with my mother. (The "MEANIE!" strip that recently ran was something my mother enjoyed a lot. Personal experience I guess... :)

I am very sad that the Patterson family will soon be frozen in time. I hope that perhaps you find some way to keep us in touch with future events. Elizabeth and Anthony deserve to have kids together! And April deserves to graduate high school. :)

But in any event, thank you very much for sharing your talent with us. Where my parents still alive, I am sure they would send you their love and prayers, and well as thier thank you for sharing your fine work. I do too.

Yours,

Paul R, Georgetown TX

Hi there I just would like to thank you for your lovely comic strip.(sorry this is a long story please bear with me). Your comic strip is a craving for me. When my mom first gave me one it sat in my bookcase for months (sorry!) I was always reading a different comic strip till I finished one of the books and did not have anymore of that comic. So there for I decided to try your comic book the first one I read was It's All Down Hill From Here! After I read that I read another one then all of a sudden I could not find a nother so I strip down every book case in the house(all four of them and my little white one) and to my delite I found "If This Is A Lecture How long Will It Be?" Ever since i've been reading your comic strip every day. Thank you so much your comic strip is real in every real fans heart.

Maddy, Age 13

I just wanted Lynn to know how very much my entire family enjoys hearing about Iris and Jim. My 76 year old father is Jim and his 74 year old wife is Iris. They even have one of your new years toons framed and on a wall at home. One of their son in laws is even John however his wife is Andrea. At first I thought you had to be from my home area and know my parents. I doubt if there are many more Iris and Jim couples out there. Iris is not that common of a first name. Thank you for providing so much enjoyment for my family. Keep up showing Iris and Jim!

Andrea, Olathe KS

Okay, Lynn, I just have to say that between now and whenever you freeze the strip in time "sometime in 2008", you have to bring Ned back for a long overdue guest appearance. I understand things are difficult for small plastic men these days and he really needs the gig. The word on the street is that he's been seeking therapy to cope. You have the power to impact a life. Think about it, Lynn. Do the right thing. Remember: " With great power comes great responsibility!" :-D

Cheers!

Susan R, Arizona

Dear Lynn,
I have loved reading FBorFW for many years and I have always loved that everyone's life and age progresses with time. It has given me a chance to be a part of the Patterson family; their joys, triumphs, and celebrations. I cried when Farley died, I was excited when Mike's book was published, I was yelling at April when she and Gerald almost ... (well you know) when John and Elly were at Mike's party and I've got my fingers crossed for Liz and Anthony. They all feel like such a part of my life. With all of these wonderful, happy events are the sad ones, also. I read the strip on December 29th when Grandpa Jim "says" that this Christmas might be his last. I don't mind telling you that I felt like I had been hit in the stomach - not necessarily because we may be saying farewell to him (I will miss him terribly), but because this was the first Christmas since my mom passed away. We didn't have any warning. She just left us and every occasion during that first year seems a little emptier. I know he's a character in a comic strip, but he's made me laugh, think, cheer and when I'm done I always feel warm inside. I guess I just wanted to say thank you for the heads up.

Alicia, Virginia

Hard to say this briefly...but you and the Pattersons have been as much a part of my family all these years as my real family members. You and I are close in age, and my children parallel the Patterson children in many, many respects. I've been a loyal fan of the strip for 30-some years now and appreciate your efforts to keep the strip a hybrid as opposed to discontinuing it altogether. I recently contributed to the Farley fund and again teared up as I reread the episode in which he died. You have the power to touch us all each day, and I just wanted to let you know how greatly appreciated that is! Many, many of us can't conceive of a day in which the Pattersons don't play a role.

Thank you, Lynn!

Jane S, Columbia MD

Have kept up with the Pattersons since Michael and Liz were toddlers. Although I know readers enjoy living nice lives vicariously thru this family, I keep wondering why there is not more "reality" involved. Liz lived with her boyfriend but never got pregnant or contracted an STD (in fact, her parents never even warned her of those possibilities.) Michael never tried pot. So forth...and yes, in today's world these are real issues that ought to be addressed for the sake of reader identification...

Paula J, Olympia WA