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This is for Meg and other bean spillers who are especially interested in Michael and Deanna, and may not be familiar with the dark blue "Classic Content"tab on the www.FBORFW.com website. If you fell in love with the story the first time around this is the place to go to review the details. Hitting the classic tab with your cursor will take you to the "Introduction to the Classic Stuff" logo page and on the right, under "Patterson Family Memories" (it's highlighted in green) is "Deanna & Michael, A love Story".Hit this title with the cursor and you get a picture of the two of them in wedding attire with some Hearts across the top of the page. One of the hearts is labeled "The Strips". This takes you to five pages of strips from the original comic.

Read them and you will see that the first time around Michael and Deanna were not shown riding the kindergarten bus and in the same kindergarten class, as they were in the rewrite last fall. Her temporary move to Burling!ton and return to start first grade were not part of the story the first time either. (Maybe it happened in Lynn's head or her subconscious mind, but she didn't draw it for us until last year! It is as you know in the new-run or rewrite and it makes the story better. But its fine to review the original story and consider how the new drawings and plot line additions enhance it.

According to Michael, when sitting by Deanna's hospital bed, he last saw her in Grade 4 - then she moved. So it will be more than three years before she moves again. If Lynn changes any details of the second parting and also keeps the strip where Michael says he last saw her in Grade 4, we will conclude it is Michael who is confused, not we observers or Lynn.

I had no experience at all in visiting websites, before I nagged my better half to go to the FBORFW site in January 08. It really enriches the experience of reading a comic.

Amy D, Vienna, VA, USA

Poor Elly --I think she really was "born too soon". I can't get over the number of young Moms "Blogging" on the internet, running Web Auctions, or -- even *gasp* creating On-Line Comics. I sometimes think the great Social Liberator of our time wasn't the Feminist Movement (which fell apart once it proclaimed itself "The Voice of ALL Women") --but the arrival of the "GOOGLE Search" ...!

Anna M, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

It irks me that you have Elly moaning and groaning because she doesn't have a job. As a single mother who had not choice but to raise two children alone, I would have KILLED to have had that luxury including no financila stress about whether or not we CAN pay our bills this month. Maybe Ellie should try working two jobs, caring for the children and house, paying the bills when there is never enough money, etc. ALL ON HER OWN. Then she would really know what it's like to not have time to read and stop her insidious whining.

Suzanne B, FL, USA

Good Morning! I've read your comic strips for at least 10 years! it is a part of my day! The life of the patterson family has been "the jelly in my donut," so to speak. My family laughs at me because I've laughed out loud, as well as cried regarding your strips. I've waited with anticipation for what will happen next, and was happy to report the outcome. So, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for the reality you bring to your strip. As a mother I have needed the assurance that my insecurity's are not just real, but normal. Thank you!

Angela D, Baton Rouge, LA, USA