For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 28, 2024

Rest in peace Farley

According to traditional Japanese beliefs, all humans have a spirit or soul called a reikon (霊魂). When a person dies, the reikon leaves the body and enters a form of purgatory, where it waits for the proper funeral and post-funeral rites to be performed so that it may join its ancestors. Elizabeth talks about meeting Farley again in Heaven from Christianity, so it is interesting that Dawn counters with ghost talk not uncommon in Japanese belief. Clearly the author is going along with Dawn on this one. This is the first time we get to see ghost Farley and I suspect it will not be the last.

I have heard that collar before. Miss you.

All dogs go to heaven, especially from South Dakota.

Awww…

Ooga Farley!

Ooga Farley!

Ooga Farley!

Ooga Farley!

Jesus said to feed the hungry. Makes sense to let Dawn’s family have Farley after he died.

Tear jerker

A very sad and solemn strip. I love Elizabeth; she’s always been my favorite Patterson.

For all who have lost a beloved pet…

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

This made me cry….I still feel our Doberman’s head on my stomach from time to time, which he’d do to wake me up, and he’s been gone almost 15 years now….and our little Pom mix, rubbing against my legs…and she’s been gone 10 tears. They’re always with us.

Damit 1:00 AM Sunday and you brought a tear to a grown as$ man’s eye

I have 3 dogs and 7 cats that walk with me.

Well I’m crying.

When my German Shepard “Chloe” passed away one morning a few days later I could feel her spirit waking me up and did a little tease that was so real I truly thought she was there. Then she crossed over.

My first adopted dog was Mykei, a Smooth-haired Fox Terrier. She was 4-1/2 months old when we brought her home, in 1991, from the shelter. Mykei was with us over 12 years, until cancer took her from us Labor Day weekend 2003. Afterwards, I kept feeling her lying next to me, and hearing her snore, and the sound of her nails clicking on the floor.

I was hearing Pax’s collar jingle for months after she died. She was a great dog.

I thought I saw Nimitz at home a week after he died.

I heard my old dog still walking the halls, doing his “patrol” for years after he passed.

My husband and I both heard our recently departed cat jump off the bed. Afterward, I described what I heard to him and was surprised to learn he heard it clearly too. I told Abbey that we loved and missed her but were glad she could again move freely. She will be one of many cats waiting at the bridge for us.

From Lynn’s Comments; Some readers made fun of this idea—that Farley lived on in a spiritual form…but others were comforted by this Sunday page. The death of the Patterson family dog was an emotional story and I wanted it to end on a positive note.

As long as they meet me in heaven I will be okay.,

After my cat died occasionally I would up in the middle of the night because it felt like he had jumped on the bed with me. He actually didn’t sleep with me at night, so it was weird. When I would nap during the day though he was always there. When a tornado hit our house in 2011 I had laid down at 1 pm. A few hours later I woke up and went to the bathroom window. I had never seen an actual tornado. I still haven’t. I don’t know why, but I ran to my closet. The roof collapsed on my bed. My husband had to move parts of it to get to my closet. As soon he got me out I went searching for Mischief. I finally found him underneath my daughters’ bunk bed. Their room just had nail pops, so he was safe. I moved his litter box and food in there until we could get everything sorted. I still have his stuffed giraffe. Cancer sucks.

Thank you Farley. This storyline has resonated and been very emotional as this final panel evokes beautiful memories of our deceased dog from 2004.

I have both of my JRT’s cremains in boxes on my cabinet in my office. On top of each box is the last collar each one wore.

That’s not Farley’s collar you hear. That’s Anthony lurking in the bushes.

One of my dogs died a few months ago. I still get weepy.

Anyone who’s loved a pet (IMHO, esp. a dog) knows this feeling. I am reminded of lyrics form an old song: “If pain is the measure of true love and treasure, may we all drown in sorrow tonight.”

yeah… I know what she means. :(

Touching.

Oui…I miss my dog so much! I really hope animals go to heaven!

Lovely!!!

A wonderful tribute strip.When this arc first aired I had no access to comics and so had not previously seen it. I’d heard of it and knew the basics but that was it. I can understand why some people were/are angered by it but I think it’s a great little story.

Not at all odd. I still see dogs who lived with us 40 years ago out of the corner of my eye, not to mention those who have been with us more recently. Some nights, I still hear my favorite little guy Boris, a Corgi barking outside. OK, I know it’s a dog with a similar bark, but it’s Boris that I hear.

In 2020, I adopted my first pet. A Cat. Handsome as could be. However, he had a heart murmur.

4 months after I adopted him, he crossed the rainbow bridge.

4 years later, some nights, I can still feel him hop onto my bed, walk around my feet, and lay behind my knees.

Reminding me of my li’l Peanut….

He’s waiting at Rainbow Bridge for the whole family to be with him again.

I have heard that sound too. Now I’m crying.

It would take a heart of stone not to shed a tear.

Dam.. Now I’m crying too.

My beloved pheets silently nickers to me on breezey days. I live for those moments.

I’ll be feeling you

In all the old familiar places

That this heart of mine embraces

All day through

As I walk along today

The park across the way

The children’s carousel

The chestnut trees

The wishing well

I’ll be feeling you

In every lovely summer’s day

In everything that’s light and gay

I’ll always think of you that way

I’ll find you in the morning sun

And when the night is new

I’ll be looking at the moon

But I’ll be feeling you

I’ll be feeling you

In every lovely summer’s day

In everything that’s light and gay

I’ll always think of you that way

I’ll find you in the morning sun

And when the night is new

I’ll be looking at the moon

But I’ll be feeling you

At 1st I thought " why am I feeling so sad…this s just a comic". Then I realize I had to put down 4 dogs over the last 30 years and now I have a 5th one that I know I will have to eventually put down as well.

Very touching.

Understood

This story has made me so sad RIP Farley

Wonder when Mike will be home to visit Farley… I still dream of my dog occasionally, too..

It’s obvious that too many of us share this grief, and that’s what Lynn was tapping in to. We’re all tearing up as we read (or type). She was lucky to end this arc on a Sunday strip so everyone could say a final goodbye to Farley.

Trust me, they are always with you.

I can’t take the time to read 76 comments but I’m sure someone mentioned the Rainbow Bridge where all kitties and puppies (and other pets) go to wait to be with their owners when the owner arrives. They have all they need, all the food they want, lovely weather, other pets to play with but they still miss you and one day you will be reunited. I miss my darling Macushla (pictured) and all the other kitties that have gone to the Bridge but I look forward to seeing them again.

My grandfather lived the last years of his life with us and we’d hear the boards creaking in the hallway as he went to the bathroom in the wee hours (no pun intended.) After he died we’d still hear the creaking sound which was of course thermal expansion effects….or was it?

You’ve got collar waiting.

A big heart and soul like Farley’s doesn’t just disappear – at least, I hope not!

The day we had to put our sweet Francie down was absolutely the worst day of my life. Worse than the deaths of my parents or any other thing I’ve been through.

As sad as it is, this story was written very well. Much better than I thought.

This brought to mind Jimmy Stewart reading a poem about his dog Beau on the Tonight Show.

youtube[dot]com/watch?v=mwGnCIdHQH0

I still feel my cat jump into bed with me even though he’s been gone for three years.

In the years following, I miss my cat Boo greatly. In the months after he was euthanized, I felt guilt if I could have done more, whether I gave up too soon. We live with our decisions and hope they came from the right place.

My husband and I could still hear our dog’s toenails tapping while going up and down the wood stairs and circling before lying down in the foyer. This lasted for a week or two after she died suddenly.

I’m not crying. You’re crying!

/cry RIP Aspen

Wasn’t this the second time that Farley was killed off in this manner. It was my recollection that this manner. I’ver been following this comic for a long time.

Awwww

I’ve heard that collar and felt my friend nearby so many times in my life. This brought back my tears today. We love all my fur babies and miss them. Thank you for such a tender story line about life.

To create such a life event for us with such pathos and feeling, Lynn, you must have recently lost a pet , perhaps your dog. If so, heartfelt regrets.

Darn got something in my eyes. Must be allergies

For a few weeks after my wife died I would wake up in the middle of the night thinking I heard someone walking around the bedroom. A few times it seemed like someone sat on the edge of the bed. I reached out but no one was there.

Today’s strip was so true. Seeing the ghost of their dog. I felt that when my first doxie died many years ago. And now I feel that way about my husband who died last year. This really hit my heart! In a good way.

Darn it, you made me cry!!

Geez, gonna make me cry…

After our dog passed, a few weeks later I walked into the livingroom and saw him lying on floor with his head up and wagging his tail.

I said hi to him turned to do something and in a second I thought , Wait , What? Turned and he was gone :"(

all our animals will be with us in Heaven…remember God created the animals first, then Man, to be their caretakers

SAD

I’m not cryin’….you’re cryin’…….okay…..I’m cryin’ too. :-(

I have had feelings like that about my passed fur babies.

Magnificent.

Am not crying. Through life you pick up many precious shadows at your heel

Months after our black Scottie passed we would come home, open the door and look to be sure he wasn’t underfoot in the dark room. Was always just at the door. Called it a Micky moment.

In the end it was better for Johnston to have Farley go out like he did, instead of how it usually ends; have him go in a grand, heroic fashion, and spare us the long, slow decline, the loss of faculty and the last trip to the vet.

That is beautiful and I do not doubt that it is true, when a dog dies, I do not doubt that in spirit he is still with us!

And so it goes!

I think I will go and hug my dog now ……

don’t worry. he’s at the rainbow bridge playing waiting for you.

it just dawned on me. i wonder how mike will feel when he finds out about farley. he knew him the longest of the kids.

At last, a compassionate and human statement…thank you, Lynn.

After my second dog died, I heard his spirit everywhere in the house. I once felt him on my bed. I heard his metals on his collar. He stuck around for several weeks. Now I only hear him once in awhile. My current dog often gets up and looks at something that isn’t there. I know animals can see and hear many things we don’t.

Patch’s collar rests on my dresser, picture of us together and the knowledge that he’s still here.

So have I

Interesting how we can stoically watch news from Israel and Gaza but shed a tear for a cartoon dog that never existed.

I guess tomorrow we’ll see if everyone who made a big production out of saying they were going to skip reading this arc comes back. (If they ever left to begin with, that is; can’t really say I was keeping track.)

Our wonderful and loving family. Makes my heart break for all I’ve lost.

We bring them into our lives, knowing that we won’t outlive them. It’s still worth it! These lovely souls love us without rules.

Pet parents are the luckiest!

On a couple of occasions in the past six months, I could swear I heard my Lexie scratching the door, which is what she did when she needed to be taken outside. I pray for the Rainbow Bridge to be there for her when my time comes.

I still catch the sight of my two cats out of the corner of my eye although they have both passed. And they visit me in my dreams as well, sometime together (although they never met in life). In fact my first cat taught my second cat how I could leave the bathtub faucet dripping so as to allow her to get a drink of fresh water and she started to do that starting the next day after that dream.

Ironically, during the strip’s run Chris Farley’s life ended.

He is there Elizabeth, and he will always be with you.

We sometimes hear our old Yorkie’s toe nails click on the kitchen floor, or catch a shadow of movement out of the corner of our eye.

“Heaven is where all the animals you ever loved run to greet you.” Robert B. Parker

I remember this particular strip well from 25 years ago or more.

At first I thought he was biting her butt.

The sounds our late loved-ones made stay with us as auditory memories. All our dogs and cats are tucked away there. Family, too. Though the remembered sounds fade with time, they can be rekindled sometimes.

We always went on late spring fishing trips when I was a kid. My parents would bring along a transistor radio so they could listen to the baseball games after dinner, while we kids were toasting marshmallows around the fire. Last night, I turned in early, but woke up with a start to the sound of baseball being broadcast on a radio. Our TV was off; hubby was asleep and our son was working.

On good days I hear the dogs and the cat climbs on my shoulder to purr beside my ear.

The last panel was modified from the the original. When the strip first ran, Farley was behind Elizabeth, not next to her, and he had no collar on.

Still have to laugh at some earlier strips.

Dog Groomer: All done.

Elly: Doesn’t he look nice! My precious Farley. Nothing is too good for my Farley Warley!

Dog Grommer: That will be $200.

Elly: For brushing a dog??

Someone wrote that this first ran In 1995. I was 51 then and had 6 wonderful cats. I swear I can feel their presence near me now lying on the bed next to my reading chair, or on nice days sleeping in the open window. I turn 80 this July. I bet that someone has told them it isn’t long now, and they are cleaning their lovely fur coats for me to pet.

The beauty of the first panel and the pathos and love in the last one – both brought tears to my eyes.

To think of the circumstances of Farley’s passing… He was old, but still did what he had to do to protect a member of the family. He died a hero, and missed as much as a loved one. If this don’t catch ya right in the feels, you might need to check yourself for a pulse…

I remember the first time Farley died. I can’t believe I have to live through it again! :’(

Darn it, here comes the tears again…

Enshrine Farley’s last poo

They leave a huge hole in your life and your heart.

This has me teary eyed!

This is sad! Like an old friend passing away, Farley has been in the comic strip for so long. I love how he saved April before he passed away, he gave his life for her.