Lynn's Comments: This did not happen. I made this part up. As Farley Mowat said when I asked him if he really did eat mice (as in his book "Never Cry Wolf"), "If it didn't happen, It should have."
Lynn's Comments: This strip began with the Garfield pin. We had gone to visit Jim Davis (creator of Garfield) and his family, and had returned with some treasures–one of which was a tiny Garfield pin. I can't remember if I ever told Jim that the pin had been lost and found, and that a Sunday page had been the result. Thanks, Jim!
Lynn's Comments: Right now, my grand daughter is living with a fairy in her house. The fairy is happily waiting for a second tooth to be hidden under Laura’s pillow. The first tooth was replaced by a two dollar coin! Fairies are more generous these days.
Lynn's Comments: There was a guy we knew in Lynn Lake, Manitoba who had a front tooth missing. Into the gap, he would push a cigarette so he could talk and smoke at the same time. I liked this guy. Some folks disappear into the pit of your subconscious. Others you remember for the rest of your life!
Lynn's Comments: If I think about it, I can still feel the sensation of having a loose tooth; the pop and sting of it being pulled out, and the metallic taste of the hole it left in my jaw. Losing my teeth meant a surge ahead: another leap towards independence!
Lynn's Comments: As I recall, I, too, left my room in an unruly mess. Thing is, in those days, there were some pretty harsh punishments, and I had to decide if going against the matriarch was worth the risk!
Lynn's Comments: The problem with this strip is that it wasn't clear who did the "YEAAGHH!" Some readers thought it was Michael and didn't understand. I had hoped that the old adage, "Ignore something and it will go away." would be obvious and carry the joke, but not so. We're running it again anyway!
Lynn's Comments: When my kids were small and I had babysitters, I enjoyed the conversation and the company of teenaged girls. They were smart, reliable, and always up for a visit. Living in an isolated community meant sparse shops, one hairdresser, and little to do on a Saturday night. It was fun for me to do their hair, experiment with nail polish, and talk about the boys they liked. It was a privilege to have their confidence, and on more than one occasion, I was asked for advice. That, I considered the best compliment of all.
Lynn's Comments: Man, I was happy with this punch line. Now and then a great one comes along, and when it does, you kinda look around to thank the spirit that handed it to you. I rather think the line came from a famous player–someone who played hard but played fair. I wonder who it was.
Lynn's Comments: My friends used to go to my mother for emotional help. They’d pour their hearts out about everything from boyfriends to schoolwork, to their relationships at home. As a teenager, I found my mother awfully hard to talk to, and I couldn’t understand why my friends went to her for guidance!
Lynn's Comments: Living with teenagers is a challenge for all parents. Living with adopted teens must be an incredible challenge. I tried hard to imagine it.
Lynn's Comments: While making a big cuddly fuss over the dog one day, I noticed a wistful glance from my husband. Whether he was cringing at the "dog-ma" of mother and dog or a bit jealous, I didn't know. The scene made for a good Sunday page!
Lynn's Comments: If I was doing the strip today, I’d be even more intrigued by the ability to talk almost subliminally in coded texts and abbreviated comments. Today, it is communication as fast and as simple as it can be, but nuances and subtlety are lost along the way. I wonder how many serious misunderstandings occur now, because people don't use or don't know enough good words to be able to express themselves!
Lynn's Comments: Molly is Elly’s best friend Connie’s step-daughter. I was getting into some convoluted relationships and I only had four panels a day in which to tell a story. Four panels and one statement a day. This was hardly enough time to develop a character—especially one outside the familiar ones already established.
Lynn's Comments: After the strip became second nature to me, I began to look past the main characters to the Pattersons’ neighbours and friends. I was so immersed in the neighbourhood that I wanted to know what was going on in their families, too. I began to introduce strange new characters; people who would be interesting for the readers, and a challenge for me.