Lynn's Comments: What I remember of the school dances (or sock hops) was sweating in tight, formal clothing and feeling the fuzz on the boys' faces as we danced awkwardly cheek to cheek.
Lynn's Comments: This didn’t happen to me until I had graduated and was in art school…but it happened. Disposing of one's lunch in a public space is never gracious, but we all seem to need this experience. Mine happened in Stanley Park near the zoo—an appropriate location.
Lynn's Comments: Every class has its jerks and its heroes. I wanted to show that Gordon, despite his rough home life and his crumpled clothes, was a genuine hero.
Lynn's Comments: I've shown the kids ballroom dancing, which was what we did…we had to learn how! It was part of our gym class curriculum. Ballroom dancing allowed us to lean close together, to allow one person to lead the other, to feel motion, rhythm, pattern and style. Things have changed. People don’t ballroom dance anymore, but I'm guessing it will become such a novelty that young people will see how romantic it is and bring it all back. YES!!! …But first, they'll have to come up with some danceable tunes.
Lynn's Comments: It did rain. I was wearing a light blue coat and the red colouring dripped down onto my collar and shoulders. I didn't want to spoil our walk, so I didn't run home until the colour ruined my coat.
Lynn's Comments: Calvin did show my notes to his friends. I can still see them laughing. I can still feel the humiliation, but I still liked him. A lot.
Many years later, when I was well into the comic strip and a bit full of myself, I saw Calvin in a restaurant. He recognized me and stood up for a moment to say hello. He said he knew my work. He said he was driving racecars for a living and I told him I'd love to watch. We haven't seen each other since, but now and then, I do wonder what he's up to and if he ever thinks of me. Yes, anyone who says there is no such thing as young love has never been young and in love. The first time is unforgettable!
Lynn's Comments: I loved referring to Canadian history, customs, places and geography. Before I signed my contract with Universal Press, one of the editors insisted I refer only to the United States—that the strip had to be about Americans. I asked him if he, born and raised in Kansas, could write knowledgeably and realistically about a family in New York. He admitted he could not. I said, if I couldn’t have my characters live in Canada and write what I knew, then I wouldn’t sign the contract.
Lynn's Comments: In the first panel, you can see Elly twisting Elizabeth's hair as she is getting it ready to put into a ponytail. I was able to draw things like this pretty realistically by using a Polaroid camera. I’d ask whoever was in the room to pose for me and I'd take the shot from the angle I needed. Somewhere I have an album filled with these crazy photographs!
Lynn's Comments: Dr. Enkin was the author of several obstetrics text books and his opinion was: "Childbirth isn't a disease and shouldn't necessarily happen in a hospital." This was something I believed, too.
Lynn's Comments: This story gave me the opportunity to add something "Canadian" to the strip. One of my editors originally tried to discourage me from doing this, saying he wanted it to be seen as an American family. I refused to omit Canadianisms, and the result was that folks in the US enjoyed the chance to tell me about their trips to Canada, and Canadians appreciated the reference.
Lynn's Comments: My mother was understanding enough to know that I wanted to be dropped off away from the mall or the theatre so my friends would think I'd come by bus or had walked to town. Now, that's a cool mom.
Lynn's Comments: I was royally criticized for showing Gordon having a "hormone attack." It was apparently too suggestive to be seen on the comics page.
Lynn's Comments: Somebody once said that it wasn’t possible for men and women to be good friends without any "love complications" – just friends. Well, I "deg to biffer." I had some wonderful male friends in grade school, art school, workmates and beyond. The thing is to make sure your eventual life partner is also a very good friend!