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I have followed FBorFW for over 25 years. My first memory of it is strips my Mother cut out and pasted inside a cabinet door. Being as I am only a little older than Liz, I enjoyed following her story line over the years, as well as those of Michael and April. I was disappointed by her decision to marry Anthony and I am further disappointed by the decision to rewind the comic and go back to the beginning. I no longer find myself eagerly turning to the "funny pages" to see what the day's strip will be. I appreciate Lynn's work over the years and I am sorry that she made this decision.

Kathleen, Long Island, NY

I have been teaching overseas for 10 years and my FBorFW.com was always my first entry as soon as I turned my computer on. I have been reading the strip since it started.

I understand Lynn's reason for rerunning past strips, but the excitement has gone for me. I know how everything turns out. I know that Michael gets Farley and what happens to Farley, etc, etc. I am envious of the new readers who get to read it all for the first time.

I go days now without FBorFW.com. Sigh!

MM, USA

I've always looked forward to reading FBOFW every day. Now that I thought I'd be losing it, though, I realize I savor it more than I used to. Just wanted you to know, and thanks for not throwing in the towel!

Angela, Pennsylvania

I discovered "For Better or For Worse" during Elly's pregnancy, when I was pregnant with my son, who was born five months after April. Like Elly, I struggled with the trials and tribulations of teenagers (two girls) and a baby, husband, dog, and cat, and the fact that realty isn't always politically correct. And there were times I swore that Lynn was looking in my windows somehow. I sought out the earlier books in the collection--to catch up on the Patterson history--but always knew that there were strips and stories missing in them.

I'm enjoy the chance to go back and see those missing moments. Thanks for the opportunity to do so.

Judi L, Wisconsin

Thanks so much for the wonderful years of your humour and insight. FBFW is the only comic strip I read and I follow it where ever we travel. Now that I have the time to relax I am looking forward to the new/old strip - its like reading a great book a second time !

Marianne C, Sudbury by way of Hamilton

Add me to the throngs of people who enjoy Lynn's artful intersection of fiction and reality. How lucky (and smart)she is to get to "do over" her life's work, and improve upon an already well-done masterpiece. We should all be so lucky (and smart) in life.

Ellen G, Ohio

I'm sorry but try as I may I can't get into the new story line. I loved the old strip and it would be the first thing I would check on my computer in the morning. But the new strip just doesn't do it for me.
When I first started reading your comic we had young children it all sort of went togeather well. Our Kids are in their 20's now and the more adult comic with a more adult story line went well with life today.

I wish you well Lynn but I won't be seeing you in the funny papers.

Ian J, Cowichan Bay, BC

Several weeks ago I stumbled upon Hank Stuever's editorial about the end of FBorFW (Washington Post, August 28, 2008), and how millions of devoted FBorFW *haters* will be disappointed that the strip was over. I thought, "Gee. If people HATE it so much, it must be a really well-written strip." I came to your Web site, read through a zillion archives, and now am hooked! (In fact, I have added your site to my FireFox browser's "Morning Coffee" add-on. It automatically launches your site in my browser every morning, right there next to CNN and Yahoo!).

I am so pleased that I will have the chance to read this story from "the beginning," and I wonder how in the world I missed it all these years.

Rest assured that I am not the only newbie out there who is now a devoted fan. And to think -- I would never have found the Pattersons had you not "retired."

Thank you for such a warm, funny, and REAL story that I and so many others can relate to.

Janie J, Alburquerque, NM

Lynn, I have so enjoyed your comic strip for many years following along as the Patterson's life has mirrored my own. But now, I am 62 and understand the need to semi-retire. I am heading that way myself and know how hard it is to stop working when you really like your life. But time goes on and I really admire your courage in revisiting the Patterson's again. I did not see many of the first strips but most of the last 10 years. Thank you for continuing and letting us revisit and relive their family life. Unfortunately, our newspaper - The Washington Post - no longer carries your strip but I do have the option of reading it online.
All the best as you continue your life and again, thank you for keeping the Patterson's alive for your fans.

Margaret D, Arlington, VA

To Lynn, Love your comic For Better or For Worse. What an amazing woman you are to give such a wonderful rendering of life with each stroke of the pen. One of my all time favorite readings of the day is such a part of my life. The day Farley died I remember crying for a weeek after I read the strip.
I hope you will consider making FBOFW into a cartoon, so that a whole new gerneration will enjoy the life and times of Elly & John Patterson and family. Would love to see another book as well. I have been married 34 years this comic was and is a joy to read. Clipped out many close to home strips for on the fridge. Thank you for so many wonderful pictures of life around us. You touched our hearts, made us laugh and cry. Mostly LAUGH...
Bless You.

Tara M, Edinboro, PA

I grew up with your strip. I was raising my baby while Elly was raising hers. I will miss watching April turn into the woman she was approaching. But I am not sorry that you have gone back to the beginning. Wish I could, knowing what I know now. I hope you will miss the older family somewhat and mayber throw a book or two our way, just to catch us up to where they area as opposed to where they were. And maybe you could branch out a little more...I know there were side stories you wanted to tell...I find it interesting that both Michael and Elizabeth married their first loves. And that Michael's birthday is the same as mine. Thanks for the sympathy and the memories.

Debbi M, Tacoma Washington now

Dear Lynn,
As a former educator, I greatly appreciated your inclusion of important social issues, such as kind thoughts about the less able and persecuted among us. Will the new format bring in a few thoughts about the handicapped children of the world? I gave 25 years of my career to this field and you are about the only hope for a "bully" bully pulpit.

PS. Whatever you and your great team come up with is still just fine with me. I eagerly look forward to each new strip. Thanks SO much!

Martin W, Hermiston, OR

I've been reading the strip ever since it was picked up by the Detroit Free Press. I really identified with the middle Micheal/Elizabeth years, since I was a school libraian and could see them in my students. Then a bit late in life I had my kids at the same time as Mike and Dee ( girl first 5 months after Merideth was born, the a boy 3 months after Robin!) so I loved the strips about their life. I can now really appreaciate the new/old strips with Elly and Jon. Thanks for the great work and for sharing it in the USA. I did not figure out that the Pattersons even lived in Canada until you drew a picture of a postal box with a maple leaf on it!

Julie W, Indiana

hi Lynn,

While I respect your choice to do what you're doing with the strip, I'd sure enjoy the storyline more if it were about Michael and Deanna or Liz and Anthony ...

kind regards,

Ruth S, San Francisco

I buy our local paper every day and the comics are a fun part of my day. I read them all systamatically, leaving my favourite to last FBW. I have read and loved FBW for many years and am absolutely devestated to know it has come to the end of the road. Sadly our Advertiser newspaper has in its wisdom????? (not) decided not to run the re runs. My only consolatation is you still have your website for me to browse through. Many thanks for all the laughs the tears and the realism of your strip. April shares a birhtday with my grand daughter Ashleigh. They were born in the same year! Love and good wishes to you and yours. From the land Down Under. No we are not upside down. LOL

Rosalie Z, Northgate, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia

Dear Lynn

thank you for all the wonderful years. i have read your strip for as long as i can remember and my life seems to parallel that of the elizabeth and michaels, kids, school etc. you make sense of this big world. thank you for making life happier,

Dee, Adelaide, South Australia

I can not rememeber the first time I started learning about and enjoying the Patterson's but I know that I can not start my day without reading them first - before anything. Your strip sets the tone of my day whether it is a sad or funny moment, it makes think to always see another side of things - no matter what. So how do you thank some one who has become a part of your heart when thank you seems such a little word and not enough. May you always brighten my day no matter what format you have chosen to use to do that - you will always bring me laughter, wisdom and a reality check. Merci beaucoup

Betty M, Oshawa, Ontario

I remember when mike put a grubby sock on every door knob in the house, When Elizabeth slammed the toilet seat on Farleys head and John thought his dog training skills were improving. The most beutifull comic strip I ever saw was the sun blazing in on the litter which contained Edgar, and John asking "why are you all looking at me?" I also remember Billy asking Dolly and Jeffy, "Do you think Grandpa plays with the Pattersons Dog farley up in heaven?"

Scince we dropped the paper a year or more ago I have been reading the strip in two month chunks, I just read from July '08 to aug. 31st. All I can say is this,-

Thank-you, so much, for a good job so very well done, all these years.

Alec N, Live in NC