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I can't believe so many people are interpreting today's strip as John telling Elly to be VERY careful with their money. I certainly interpreted being "CAREFUL careful" as being careful not to have another unexpected baby to raise! I thought it was a great strip!

Sheri

Hmmm... I believe John may have been alluding to being "careful" about not having any more children, was he not?

Mindy S, Acton, MA

I have been interested to read comments about "Why does Elly act like this?", or "Why should John say that?" I do not think these are fair criticisms, to tell the truth. I think that this strip serves to point out human foibles, which we all can recognize, and say, "Yeah, I did that, or my mom said that..." and laugh at ourselves. Perhaps Lynn needs to exaggerate a bit to portray them, but I think she does an excellent job. This is a comic strip (and absolutely no disrespect at all meant), not a novel. By the way, I will be in Toronto next week, for a week, and I am lugging my laptop, only to be able to read this strip every morning!

Fern R, Santa Ana CA

Have John and Elly forgotten they have a wedding to throw for their beloved daughter? Why would he contemplate such a life-altering decision as retirement and diminished income now? Sounds like they are not as happy for Elizabeth as they pretend to be.

Jeannie, California

"Careful, Careful??" --Oh Dear!! What's going to happen when Elly totals up the cost of an Organist, Florist, Photographer, Limousine and Reception Hall reantals, Catering, Liquor, 3-tier cake and Live Band? Will she pray that Liz and Anthony elope? Or will she shanghai her friends and start organizing a "Country Wedding", with fresh-cut garden posies, home-made food and "local talent"?

Here in Manitoba we have a unique institution called the "Wedding Social" that actually began in the days of the Great Economic Depression. The prospective couple throw a party for all of their friends, providing food, drink and music (usuallu "canned"). At the end of the evening, the guests slip a few dollars into decorated envelopes, effectively "paying" for the good time they presumably had. Hopefully, the couple will realize enough "profit" to help offset some of costs of the Wedding itself, or of starting up a whole new "household"! .

Anna M, Winnipeg

Yes, everyone seems to have an opinion on Elly, April and Elizabeth's hair and weight these days. As a libarian myself, I can say that no we don't wear our hair in a bun anymore than the rest of the population.

I see college students everyday and never, ever see these young ladies in the tradional frumpy bun and loose clothing favored by this strip. Gals today favor many different hairstyles and not just the same pulled up and pilled high on my head out of my face style seen in FBOFW.

As for clothing, young ladies today favor more more revealing clothes than shown in the strip; however, they are fit and fabulous unlike Elly, April and Elizabeth.

As a 40 something woman, I exercise, eat right and would never want to dress as Elly or allow myself to get out of shape as she has. What happened? Are her bad habits falling to Elizabeth and April too? April looks strange and out of place in today's society.

As for Elizabeth, she better grab onto Anthony as she isn't the darling cutie pie most men want today. She may have brains but if the package isn't wrapped nicely, who is going to look inside???

Kat, Florida

Hi Lynn,

If John is just in his 50's, why the heck is he retiring in the first place. Most dentists I know practice beyond their 60's if able. And I agree with some readers that dentists do make good money. So why retire? And why cant Elly get a job? She doesnt have little ones at home anymore. She needs to work full time at the bookstore at least.

Cheryl L, Forest City NC

To the people who are bashing Elly and John about being "careful" careful as if they spend their money foolishly, I gathered that as in "be careful we don't add a fourth child to the family". Am I wrong? And then there's the people criticizing John for not discussing retirement with Elly first. If you go back and read Tuesday's strip she says, "That's wonderful John. We've been talking about this for so long."

Kirsten, Cheyenne WY

I can't wait to see the retirement story unfold. John's comments about spending echo what I hear in my profession - retirement-income planning. I work with lots of Baby Boomers who are preparing forr a whole new world. Many people go into retirement thinking it's a vacation, but then over-spend and end up spending more time suffering financially than enjoying their efforts.

I'm glad to see the discussion on educational planning and the idea of working in retirement. It's not about filling your time, but fulfillment of time... and I would say John and Elly will do just fine.

Thanks for the storyline, and for all the hard work each of you do!

Jim I, Bloomington, IN, USA

I have enjoyed sharing and enjoy the antics of the Patterson family as my own family grew and moved out on their own. They always dealt with real issues in love and respect - kneaded with giggles and love which is necessary to survive this life of ours! Thanks so much Lynn, and also to Elly and John, for sharing and keeping me laughing and thinking!!

Christi B, Holland Michigan

Off topic from today's comic, but for years I've been meaning to write to say... I don't like Anthony. I find it creepy that the one person Liz wants to be with looks like her Dad. Also, all the ethnic men in her life seem to have done her wrong. That's a pretty negative image. Why can't she be with the pilot? He's willing to fight for her and put his life on hold for her.

Mariko, Houston

To the Canadian Reader who expressed the belief that "April and her friends do not need to take the SATs or AP courses to go to university in Canada," I will agree with the part about the SATs. However, I would like to point out that according to their admissions handbook, the University of Manitoba pre-veterinary program (which I suspect will be April's university of choice, thanks to the close proximity to her veterinarian aunt and cousin) has high school prerequisites for application of:

Grade 12 standing in English, Mathematics and one science recommended generically; Math 40S (pre-calculus, min 60%) required for all degree programs; Chemistry 40S (min 50%) and Physics 40S (min 50%) required for pre-veterinary students.

Coming from Ontario, April will also be required to have taken Advanced Function MHF4U, Chemistry SCH4U and Physics SPH4U for the pre-veterinary program.

Paul S, Oro Valley Arizona

The issue is not that the Patterson girls are overweight, because Liz and April are not. However, we often see Elly gorging herself noisily on food with all that Chomp Smack Slurp grossness, and the way she whines about being overweight SHOWS us that SHE is.

The issue is how Frumpy and Dumpy they dress themselves. Shapeless dresses and baggy sweats might be comfortable but if you want us to believe that Liz is oh so alluring that men fall all over themselves at first glance, and that April is such a cutie now that she's over 16, then give them some curves - tailored tastefully of course. And, continuing to dress Elly in clothes from the Ma Joad Collection isn't flattering at all.

Truman F, Georgia

Hi Lynn: I have one petty unimportant complaint: Elly's hair style is terrible. I wear my hair like that when I don't care what I look like, or am too busy to bother. Lynn, Elly is a plain middle aged woman and can't change her face, but surely to goodness she can do something with that depressing hairdoo which does ABSOLUTELY nothing for that face of hers. That dreadful pulled back, flat top, bun perched at the back, style reminds me of something the character Marilla might wear l00 years ago in "Anne of Green Gables"!!

Maria Van Z, Toronto

I'm late off the mark here, but I wanted to weigh in about the "careful" careful retirement. They have two investments that I know of -- Gordon's garage (a going concern if the economy maintains itself) and Elly's real estate, plus (one would assume) a college fund for April and their home. I'm imagining savings.

However, they also have two major life events coming up:
April's education and Liz's wedding. And they have two grandchildren already and are smack dab in the sandwich generation.

What's more, with the global markets down, their investments that aren't real estate, are also likely to be down. Why sell LOW? You're supposed to BUY low, sell HIGH?

I realize they have many projects to do and are in excellent financial shape, but put me in the column of "they're retiring too soon." If they put this off for a couple of years, they'd be in much better shape financially speaking.

Susan S, New York

Poor Anthony! People seem so hard on him. He is who he is, and Liz is quite suited to him. She has made the right choice.

K. from Salt Spring