« John's Letter, Monday February 9, 2009 | Main | Wednesday February 11, 2009 »

John, you need HELP ("Valentine's Gift" wise!) Just go into a novelty store, find a cute little Teddy Bear that will sit inside a big coffee mug, and Voila! For an added touch, pin a sparkly brooch to the top of Teddy's head, or loop a glittering bracelet around his neck. (No they DON'T have to be "Diamond" pieces! )

Sheesh--Men have no Romantic Imagination....

Anna M, Winnipeg

It's sort of alarming to see how desperate Connie is about finding a man; despite your advice and despite the both of us knowing that her rushing headlong into things is a stupid idea, she seems prepared to tolerate any sort of deviant or parasite merely to avoid dying alone. This, of course, what most alarms me: she is not alone. She has Lawrence, her son, to think about. It's one thing a person to get into a horrible relationship if she's the only person that gets hurt. It's quite another to expose a child to harm merely to sate one's own needs.

Paul J, Saint John, NB

Dear Lynn J.,
I still love FBORFW, however, when you said the strip was going back to the old timeline, I thought you ment the "original" one, not the elaberated on stuff. I still enjoying reading the strip, but I wish the old stuff was actually just that, the old stuff--NOT made up old stuff.
I have all your books (my whole family is a huge fan!), and don't remember half the stuff that's been going on lately in FBORFW actually happened in those books. I also am NOT a fan of the way coffee talk changed. I don't really like the whole fans giving advice to characters who may seem very realistic, but aren't real, and won't read the advice, anyway!
I miss the old coffee talk, and the "regular old" strips!
You still have your sense of humor about you, I'll give you that! :-) Hope you're enjoying your retirement, Lynn. :-)

Sincerely,

Meg, Maine

Was that a computer that Connie was typing her personal ad on in today's strip (2/7/09)? Computers would have been around back then, but the internet was at least another decade away.

Jeff L, Williamsport, PA

I do love the strip. I just hate to see words spelled incorrectly, especially WEIRD, which most folks can't spell.

(See Feb. 7)

Your website is marvelous.

Earl D, St. Louis, Missouri

Dear Elly...did you know that Connie cannot spell "weird"? Is that weird, or what?

Debra D, Raymond, NH

The "headline" photo is always old ellie (old being my age) but the strips are always about younger Ellie, kind of misleading. If you are going to stay with "reruns" there should be a way for us to know if a strip is a rerun or maybe a updated story line.

Angela H, Chicago, IL

Just read the past months' strip and thought I was propelled back in the past.

Then I explored your (Lynn's) great website that I have not seen before.

I have a dozen or more of your books and only occasionally see the strip because I haven't read newspapers in years.

Met you twice at Joel Goodman's Humor Project in Saratoga Springs where you were so friendly and supportive of this unfulfilled cartoonist.

Keep up the great, continually, improving work.

Alan B, Athens, Georgia

Lynn, I am so glad to be able to re-connect with my favorite comic strip. My local paper, the AJC, stopped printing it about a year ago and it felt like I had lost part of my family. Now I can re-connect with the Pattersons and know more about them from their early days. I appreciate the chance to see your early works in creating this family-friendly comic strip.

Barbara, Atlanta, GA

Poor Connie, I thought for sure she would find Love with Elly's Brother I guess that went down the tubes. I loved how she was typing up that profile on the dateing service, hopefully thid time she can find a decent guy.

Chuck, Ohio