« Friday February 8, 2008 | Main | Tuesday February 12, 2008 »

FBofW has always been my favorite comic strip. But I am getting sooo frustrated lately. The romance between Elizabeth and Anthony has been ignored, or just drawn out way too long. It's like you are teasing your readers. You know we are just waiting for that relationship to take off. What are you waiting for?! Also, I'm really tired of the "flash backs". What's up?

Judy H, Birmingham Alabama

That picture of Liz kissing anthony on you homepage is making me a little ill.

Sam, Memphis

Dear Lynn,

Hey there! I'm one of your biggest fans! Your cartoons are HILARIOUS, and I read them every Saturday in the papers! I'm so glad that you're Canadian, because I've never heard of any other cartoonists who are! I also enjoy drawing cartoons, and I wish I could publish them, too!

I remember watching FBorFW on TV as a little kid, and they were really awesome! I want to learn animation as well. I've been looking for your collections and DVDs in the library, and they have 3 pages of your collections! I really wish I could find the first few that you created, though. How I wish to be a successful cartoonist like you!

Best wishes and good luck!

Jessica, Markham ON

Dear Lynn,
When will we learn more about Anthony and Liz? I am very interested to see where they go from here. I am especially anxious to see how they deal with the step-mom situation. I hope Anthony steps up and continues to parent his daughter as well as he did before Liz came back to him.

Thanks for listening!

Lucia, Montana

I have been a loyal fan of FBOFW for just about as many years as I could read. I have actually grown up with Michael and I see that our lives have paralleled in so many ways - - though he did get married a bit before me.

I really have to say that the storyline with Michael home with the kids is great! I have a 17 month old and my best friend has an 11 month old. Every time I read your strips, I think I am looking into the future with the 2 of them.

My father and I still chat regularly about FBOFW. Especially Grandpa Jim and his future, because his storyline could have been written as a mirror to my grandmother's last years of life. Thank you for bringing such a touching, funny, lifelike strip to the world.

Heather, Lock Haven PA

I would feel a great loss personally and professionally if Lynn stopped her work. As a school social worker and psychodramatist..I have used her work for many years as "warm-ups" for group discussion and role play. I will ask the students what is going on in the strip and see about clarifying the issues. I then ask if the issues remind them of anything in their own lives..which will lead to a role play about them and their families FBorFW has been a wonderful theraputic tool over the years. Lynn's work has touched the hearts of many of my students and has touched my heart on many occasions as well. (the relationship that Liz had with her wheelchair bound teacher was particularly significant in the discussion of acceptance of differences and of self acceptance)

Stew F, Forest Hills NY

Oh my goodness, how I have laughed this week reading the strip. It brought back such memories of timers, time outs, early bed times, etc. with our own two darling sons (now grown men). By the way, in spite of their juvenile, bratty behavior as small children, the boys grew up to be lovable, productive citizens. One is a physician and one is an extraordinary mathematician. Both are making a huge difference in the world. :) Just as seen in Lynn's comic strip with Michael and Elizabeth, children do and say childish things, but they can still grow up to be wonderful and valuable people. Thank you for keeping it all so real.

Kathy F, New York State

I am a 48-year-old man who found himself crying this morning while reading the strip and thinking about how Lynn is winding it down. I've been amused, and my heart has been warmed, by the Pattersons since Michael was, I think, 7 and "Nizzie" was 2. I don't normally relate so closely to TV or comic strip families, but I've loved watching the way these two, along with April, have gone through the drama of youth and grown up into such decent people.

In particular, I will always, always, always be grateful to Lynn for her treatment of Lawrence's coming out when he and his friends were in high school. This is something I could barely have imagined when I was in high school, while today, across the US (and, I assume, Canada), high schools have Gay/Straight Alliances, and so many young people accept and stand up for their friends and classmates who are different from them in this way. This kind of environment has come to exist largely because, more and more, people like Lynn have brought the lives of gay youth, realistically and tenderly, into the public's awareness.

Bless you, Lynn.

Jason B, Arlington VA

Dear Lynn,
Over the past couple of years, I have corresponded with you and you have been very gratious in responding. Thank you! I don't know how you have the time to care for each individual, like me, as you no doubt have thousands of admirers. I am 69 years of age and your strip has always been my favorite. You are my "Cartoon Strip Creator Hero!" My wife and I look forward to your FBOFW comic installment.

I know I asked you in the past, and no doubt you had a reason, but we thoroughly enjoyed the visit of John's burly aunt who visited them several years ago. What a character, and I seem to recall there was speculation the neighbors that John was seeing another women until her identity was disclosed. Again, thank you, that was very funny and enjoyable.

Don't quit on us, we need your great talent and cartoon strip. I have been a kid at heart for sixty-nine years and never miss the weekly funnies.

Gerald M, Northern Michigan