Lynn's Comments: When this story began to unfold, all of the thoughts one would have if confronted by this news began to buzz in my head. What would I do if this was happening to ME?
Lynn's Comments: My punch lines often relied on figures of speech. I thought that Elly's fainting in the last panel here would make sense. Sometimes, readers were left wondering what there was to smile at because the gag was a bit obtuse. All I can say is that cartoonists are on a tight deadline. We have to use what comes to mind and hope for the best.
Lynn's Comments: After some thought, I decided that Elly's pregnancy would not only provide me with another baby character to have fun with, but I'd have nine months of "expectation" to cartoon!
Lynn's Comments: When copiers became commonplace, everyone squashed and copied their faces…and other personal things, as well. In one office at McMaster University, where a large copier was in constant use, I saw the distinct form of a cat pressed onto the plate glass surface. There were no photocopies left at the scene and there was no cat on the premises. The outcome of the caper was not known, but people did look for scratch marks on the arms of workers in the area.
Lynn's Comments: I've told this story before, but here it comes again!
I was beginning to regret having the characters age in real time. I was losing the art and sweet comedy of "the baby days." My young characters were speaking in adult language and having adult concerns. I talked to Cathy Guisewite ("Cathy"), and she suggested that Elly should have another baby. I argued that I only had two kids in real life and didn't know what it would be like to have three. She said, "Lynn, it’s a comic strip. Make it up!"
Lynn's Comments: When I was a kid, I knew where every squeaky floorboard was in the house. Dancing about on them really annoyed my mom. This strip was done for her.
Lynn's Comments: I'm looking back at these drawings from a grandmother's point of view now...and the first thing that came to mind was, "Why is Elly criticizing the kids when they have actually mowed and raked a lawn?!—For heaven's sake, girl, leave the complaints for bigger misdemeanors!"
Lynn's Comments: The whole time the "Michael and Martha" theme ran in the strip, my son was asked if it was true; if he was really seeing someone called "Martha." Usually, his friends were able to get past the hype and see that FBorFW was "just his mom's imagination," but this story caught fire. Aaron's friends were sure there was more to this than a comic strip. It was one of the rare times when my work made one of my kids really uncomfortable.
Lynn's Comments: When I was about 18, I went with a couple of girl friends to English Bay. Adelheid, who was a stunning dark beauty, ran into the water in an opaque, white bathing suit. But, when she walked back to us, we could see everything. Wet, her white suit had become transparent. She was horrified and spent the rest of the time rolled in a towel. Interestingly, I don't see too many plain white bathing suits!
Lynn's Comments: When I had done this cartoon and was looking at it in the paper, I realized I had missed the most important part of the joke. The sun should have been much more noticeable, and the last panel should have been a much more colourful sunset.
Lynn's Comments: A drawing like this required some reference material. When I couldn't take the photos I needed, I had loads of magazines to look through. I'm quite jealous of the artists now who can just go to YouTube and Google!