Conference misery::feline

That's the point: Garfield is supposed to be a cat.  He -used- to be an
unmistakable cat.  Now he's some kind of human.  We've got plenty of comic
strips about humans.  I prefer Dilbert.

In the very first strip, the punchline is Garfield saying "Feed me."  This
is perfectly in character with a fat cat, which I had one of at the time.

    -.1 Agreed.  And they're not even *funny* comments about the 3
    "humans"--just endless reminders that they're Lazy/Fat (Garfield),
    Nerdy/Awkward (Jon) and Stupid/Gullible (Odie).
    
    We pass Garfield in a blur on our way to Hobbes, Grimmy, Fred Basset 
    and Edgar (Edgrrrrr!-- from "For Better or For Worse").
    
    Leslie 

>    and Edgar (Edgrrrrr!-- from "For Better or For Worse").
    
And I still get a bit of a lump in my throat when I think of Farley -- Lynn 
handled it well, but it was a shock when I realized where she was going with
the story line.


			SQ

re .3:

I'd been wondering when the dog was going to die for some time.  Since the
third child is complete fiction, I expect that the dog went in some more
likely way, such as it got sick.  But that wouldn't make as good a story.

    re .3, I didn't want to mention Farley because I was afraid I'd cry
           --again!  I'm not (too) ashamed to admit that I *sobbed* when 
           he had to go.  And I agree that Lynn handled it well.
    
    re .4, I'm stumped by your comment "the third child is complete
           fiction".  April seems to me to be as real as any of the FBOFW
           characters--a very good portrayal of a preschooler, in fact.
    
    Leslie

Re .5:

It's been documented that the actual couple (names escape me!  I should get a 
net) involved decided not to have a third child.  I suspect that the character 
"April" is actually cobbled together from experience with the other two, who are 
real.

Consider where the strip is going.  Since there's approximately 3 years delay
between the actual events and their being published in the strip, shortly
the two older kids will both be out of the house.  What then?  Does "For
Better and For Worse" fold?  I hope not!

Perhaps it becomes a strip of a married couple who have empty-nest syndrome?
Not with "April" around!  Lynn (whatsherlastname) now gets to repeat the
early years of the strip, as she might wish.  But this last paragraph is just
conjecture.

    Howard,
    
    Oh, OK!  I hadn't realized the strip was based so closely on Lynn
    Johnston's family.  [Aw, geez, was there really a Farley?  :-( ]
    
    Either Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel runs half-hour FBOFW cartoons,
    and they're not bad [Canadian accents too :-) ] but they're a few years
    old--Elizabeth in junior high, Mike in high school.
    
    Leslie

I read a newspaper, I think, article about this a few years ago, which is where
I got the info.

I'm not clear on how real Farley was, but I assume he was the actual family
dog.

    Farley was based on a dog the author had about 20 years ago...

    
    I had a dog like Farley when I was a kid - an English Sheep Dog who had
    somehow managed to escape without having his tail bobbed.  We always
    wondered how he could see through his "bangs".  I remember the first
    time we saw him soaking wet after he'd gotten caught in a rainshower;
    we couldn't believe he was so small under all that shag.  His name
    was Rags.  Borrowing from Charlotte, "Some Dog!". 
    
    len.
    

    Not bad.
    
    I seem to have stirred up quite a bottle here. And the bottle seems to
    have nothing from its original contents...  :^)
    
    BTW, as for I live in Hungary, I never heard of any of the other
    mentioned 'folks' here. Do not blame me for this. And if someone HAS
    something to say about Garfield, plese feel free to do it. You also can
    offline mail it to me and we can then delete or rename this topis as it
    is...
    
    :$
    Nat

    Have to comment on the "For Better or Worse" conversation, even if it
    isn't related to the note topic... 
    
    I only get the sunday papers, so had no idea what was going on with
    Farley. I can still remember the weekend, sunday night, reading the
    comics (and always go to FBOW) and April is saying she can't sleep
    because of Farley. I had to read the comic several times to confirm
    what they were really saying. My first reaction was loud and verbal
    "Farley's dead!" and my husband not only reacted with a "what???" but
    jumped out of his chair and came over to read the strip. We were both
    bummed out. ..... now, I have a grip on reality (most of the time :^) )
    and know that this is a comic strip, so you'd think it wouldn't bother
    me. But, even as I write this, I still get blurry eyes. I've followed
    Lynn Johnston for years - have all of the books (I think), and give the
    triology of 3 baby books to every pregnant friend. I guess I never
    realized how much Farley was a part of my life!
    
    Hopefully Snoopy never goes away!
    
    janetb.

Janet,

If I read your note correctly, you don't what happened, only that Farley died
(I noticed that others also don't know the strip at all) so I will summarize 
as briefly as I can.

John and Elly (parents) went on a cruise and grandma babysat for April.  When
the parents returned home, winter rains were heavy and the river was swollen 
with raging currents.  April went outside to play and found a toy boat like
the one her parents were on.

Without telling anyone, she headed off to the river with Farley (the old
sheepdog) and his son Edgar (April was responsible for Edgar's birth, but
that's another digression).  April had been to the river many times with 
adult supervision so she had all the confidence of a toddler who has never
been hurt, in spite of being warned to never go there alone.

As she leaned over the bank to play with the boat, she slipped and fell in.
Farley jumped in after her and held her afloat by gripping the hood of her 
sweatshirt in his mouth.  He held her against the current while Edgar went 
home, got everyone's attention, and returned with John, Elly, grandma and 
Nivabeff (Elizabeth pronounced in "April").  April was rescued safe and sound
and Farley too.  However, Farley collapsed -- his old heart gave out (I'm at 
work on lunch break and hope no one comes in -- this is hard!).

Of course April blamed herself, and John and Elly had to convince her that it
was just Farley's time -- that his heart was going.  April is still having a
hard time -- last night she didn't want a bath (related water trauma) and a 
couple of days ago she was all over Elly (you know how toddlers can grab a 
leg and never let go?)  Elly called it a "velcro day" - perfect description -
we're having some of those with our older cat lately.

Yes, this has nothing to do with Garfield so maybe we should change the name
to FBOW or cartoon animals, whatever.  I think the reason this has captured
so many of our hearts is that literature helps us work through issues that
affect us deeply.  I'm not equating a cartoon strip with classic literature;
however, good literature tells the "truth" and Lynn does.

I have to go wash my face now.

			SQ

    re: 13
    
    No - I didn't know any of that. Thanks for picking up on it and
    providing the rest of the info..... gee... this  makes it even harder. I
    figured Farley's passing was just old age (well, it is, but something
    helped it along).
    
    I guess I'm missing quite a bit of the story line, just seeing this on
    Sundays. Hopefully Johnston's next book will be out soon, so I can
    catch up of the rest.
    
    thanks again...
    janetb. 

  Since this is a new FBFW and is about Edgar, this seems like the right 
place for it.  Edgar is the sheep dog mixed puppy born to Sera - father was
Farley.

first panel: Elizabeth is having a bout of teenage angst and is sitting on 
the floor down in the basement family room.  She says to herself, "I hate 
this life.  I hate this place.  Nobody cares about me -- I have no friends."

second panel: Edgar comes up to her and nudges her.  She says "Go 'way Edgar."

third panel: Edgar licks her check.  She says "I said go away!!!"

fourth panel: She has Edgar sprawled across her lap and says "Dogs.  They 
always hafta come an' wreck a perfectly bad mood."

			SQ

PS.  I have a few kitties who have the same affect.  :-)

    
    
    	Me too!  Me too!!  =)
    

         I still love Garfield. And, though I know writing cannot catch 
         up with cartoons, let me share with you two of my favorite 
         ones:
         
         1.(Jon is sweeping. Garfield is lying in the armchair)
            Jon: You get the house filthy and I clean it!
         2. (The same)
         3. (Jon's off. Garfield is lying in the armchair.)
            Garfield: AH, the delicate balance of nature.
         ***
         1. (Garfield is standing in front of a wall-calendar.)
            Garfield: Ah, a new year approaches! Full of hope! Full of
                      promise!
         2. THUD!
         3. (Garfield is covered by a big pile of debris fallen on
            him.)
            Garfield: Full of Mondays!
         
         So HAPPY NEW YEAR. I do not think it is ever late to say so.
         BTW: it's Monday.