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I have read FBorW since it first came out in our local paper -- back when Elizabeth was a toddler. I love the way the characters are so "normal" and that the kids actually grow!!
I'm pleased to see that it won't be going away. At least not in my lifetime -- I'm an octagenarian.

Helen D, Haddam, CT

Being a Canadian living in the south eastern US, FBorFW is a happy daily routine. It's fabulous to see Canadian cities featuring in a syndicated comic! As a committed FBorFW reader, it's been a wonderful journey to watch the Patterson family evolve and grow.

This recent intermingling of previous and current story lines seems so appropriate given Elly's place in time. With children grown, her career days behind her, having down-sized the family home this is usually a time of personal reflection ... looking back at all the experiences and adventures that moved you forward to this stage of life. It's an ingenious way to start closing the circles of the Pattersons' lives!

Thanks for the memories!

Chris C, Charlotte NC

I love your old and new strips. It is especially great to see the old ones because it gives me a whole new insight into John and Elly growing up with the family and relate alot of the goings on to my son now. Boy, kids will be kids. I also think "Now I know know what my parents went through". I am also anxiously awaiting to see what happens in the present story line. Keep up the good work and I hope you enjoyed your vacation.

Lise C, Lakeville NB

I have been a fan of this strip from the beginning. Everyday upon rising, I go through my morning ritual on my computer and reading your strip is the first bookmark I check. With that said, I must say that I am always disappointed when I see that the strip is one from the past. I hope these are soon coming to an end. My band of dear girlfriends all feel the same way. Please reconsider this current pattern and bring us back to the present! I love all the new story lines and find the old strips boring. Thank you,

Diane, Florida

This is the first time I have visited this site, and I was relieved to learn that there are many readers like myself, who want to know what is happening now in the life of our "other family" rather than re-living strips from the past. In my case, I was worried that you (Lynn) had become ill or for some other reason were no longer continuing the strip. I am very happy to know that this is not the case. I have not missed your strip for over 20 years; I remember each of the characters as if they were part of my extended family, and I don't ever want your strip to end.

David S, Boston

The re-runs pertaining to the dishes has me rolling. Before I got married last year, I used to defend my then fiance's household chore abilities to the skies. He would help out some times before driving home and I thought it was so sweet. He still does but I laugh and eat my words when I see the way he packs the dishwasher, with four bowls in each corner of the bottom rack with no room for anything else! I don't say anything because I don't thinks its smart to discourage housecleaning in a man.

Sheila B, South Windsor CT

Is it really necessary to have days and days of showing what an insensitive jerk John has been? It's annoying and repetitive, and, frankly, with the way Elly's been on his back with nitpicking about how he doesn't do things right the times he has attempted to help and how clear Elly makes it she'd rather do it and make sure it's done the 'right' way (which never stops her from complaining about how John never does anything), small wonder Elly bears the burden solo.

Can we please have something interesting? I loathe the sappy glurgefest that is Liz and Anthony, but at least there's something happening there--even if it's just longing looks and thought bubbles.

Cheryl, Upstate NY

I, like many of the readers that have posted here, wish that you would continue with the current time characters and have less of the flashback strips (although I admit that the one where John thanks Ellie for not telling their guests the truth killed me!) I have become addicted to this strip, and really want to know what happens next! Especially with Anthony and Liz.

Thank you for your strip. Reading your strip every morning helps get the day off to a good start.

Lea, Reno NV

I wasn't sure I would continue reading once you brought in the hybrid format. Well, I'm still reading and intend to continue. I've also been reading the "spilled beans".

When you correlate present and past strips, it works out well. However, when you have the past without correlation to the present, it is disconcerting - it feels like a strip by a different cartoonist placed to replace the one usually in that spot, due to the latter being unavailable. I never liked the drawing style of Charles Schultz, which you emulated in earlier years. Your older strips are funny enough, but lack artistry and are more like the gags of most other comic strips; they are nothing like the soap-opera/real-life story we've been following in later years.

Here's my suggestion. Have present-day strips on Mondays (to help us start the week), Wednesdays and Fridays; have old strips on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. New or alternating new-old on Sundays. At the top or bottom of each strip, have a bar that reads, "New: Mon., Wed., Fri.; Flash-backs: Tue., Thu., Sat.". This way, the reader will know what to expect.

By the way, I feel that the new strips have become more artistic since you started the hybrid. Or was it since Liz decided to accept dating Anthony? You seem to feel quite good about that couple, and your most beautiful strips include them. Go for it! If that is how it feels, let her be with her highschool sweetheart and ignore the coincidence that her brother also married his. Anthony is a great guy. The strips about the wedding and those with Therese around Christmas were very beautifully done.

You are having trouble with Elly. Is she going through "empty-nest syndrome", or "change-of-life depression"? Or "my father's dying, my kids are adults and I'm getting old" depression? Let's hope she gets some help and finds what to do in her older years, now that being a mother is no longer the main job. By the way, I think that it would be fine to let Grandpa Jim die on the strip. Death is part of life.

Mary Jo G, Berwick, Nova Scotia, Canada

Just had to mention how amazing I thought the Jan. 24th strip was. It touched my heart in more ways than I can truly explain. A comic strip, touched my heart? For Better or For Worse has been able to do this from time to time, while giving me a smile to go along with my day. But this one? With April learning that Iris put her Grandmother's picture beside her Grandfather's bed, and what Iris told her as they walked out that door?
It just hit me hard. How there is so much power in true love, and what one person will do for someone they love. To bring joy to their life, even if just for a moment.
Thanks Lynn, for taking me on this journey with you. What an amazing moment.

Desi D W, Edmonton, AB Canada

As a a young stay at home mom I am shocked to see a husband so thoughtless of his wife's contributions. I am glad for all the steps that women have taken over the years to make us more appreciated. Thank you for standing up for our sake so that the younger generation doesn't have to deal with clueless husbands.

Camille H, Kayesville Utah