For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 18, 2024

Rest in peace Farley :(

He’s the best boy. Passed with his family’s voices in his ears.

Elly is usually so “take charge”, it is a little odd that she does not start moving to take care of April until John tells her to do it. On the other hand, John is a doctor, so it is a little odd that Elizabeth is the first one to realize Farley is not breathing.

On the upside, I am seriously looking forward to John doing CPR on Farley. That would be so cool.

To paraphrase from the Book of Daniel, the writing is on the wall.

I wish there was a soundtrack of Mozart’s “Requiem” here. Like in the funeral scene from that great movie AMADEUS.

SPOILER ALERT !!!I remember this strip when it first ran decades ago. I was so worried they were going to kill off April to promote a cause. Anyway, I was devastated to see Farley go but when asked about it the creator, Lynn Johnston, said her friends told her it wasn’t believable, since he was so old, that Farley could still be alive, so she decided to write him out and give him a hero’s exit.

Diagnosis : Cold shock response ?

“Daddy? ….Daddy? …..Daddy? ….Daddy? ….. Daddy?…..Bueller? …..Bueller? …..Bueller? Anyone? …..Bueller?”

The fourth panel. In the history of ‘For Better or For Worse’ arguably the most awful part of the the meaning of the word ‘Worse’ in the title’s name.

Oh, poor Farley. He was definitely a hero dog. I hope this got written up in the newspaper later on. He deserved it.

Lynn, in chronicling the ongoing lives of the Pattersons, portrayed Farley’s exit with compassion and sensitivity. FBOFW is in a very small class of comics which almost always gives us chuckles and laughs, but on occasion touches some of our other emotions. This is why FBOFW is so special; to me, at least.

When our schnauzer died (and I buried her on this date in 2010), she was having trouble breathing because her heart was stopping. Should it be the case here, then the problem would be that Farley isn’t breathing because his heart had stopped. Does anyone know what to do in that case should an animal need CPR?

God’s gift to mankind, dogs. Well done Farley. Rest n heaven, if it is time

Sad…

Of course he’s not breathing, he was old and the stress and strain was too much for him. Same reason I haven’t cleaned out my attic in oh so long…

If you didn’t read yesterday’s “Pearls Before Swine,” this would be a good time to do so: /PearlsBeforeSwine/2024/04/17

And…..here come my waterworks…..

Good going kid. You killed the dog. Hope toy boat time was worth it!

This line is always guttingbto read. They hinted at it before but here’s…where it happens. The old boy is gone…and it really hurts

This happened in 1995. :(

Spoiler

Lynn’s Comments:

On one hand, this story was running at the worst time possible. On the other hand, teachers in Edmonton were using it to teach young children about the dangers of playing in the local creeks—so dangerous in springtime.

Please stop feeding the duck!

:’(

uh oh… :{

April will have to live with this the rest of her life

Glad to see john taking charge… Elle is in a bit of shock and the "Mom’ mode, protecting her child. He senses something is seriously wrong with Farley and sends Elle and Grandma to the house with April.

To those of you who object to this story line. Did you ever watch Disney’s “Bambi”? or “Old Yeller”? No, they were not comics, but they were stories about growing up, coming of age. It’s part of life. And I maintain Lynn Johnston handled Farley’s aging and passing with sensitivity, as did Disney’s writers. Not meant for any laughs.

RIP Farley. You are missed.

WAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

Flow down, cold rivulet, to the sea,

Thy tribute wave deliver:

No more by thee my steps shall be,

For ever and for ever.

Flow, softly flow, by lawn and lea,

A rivulet then a river:

Nowhere by thee my steps shall be

For ever and for ever.

But here will sigh thine alder tree

And here thine aspen shiver;

And here by thee will hum the bee,’

For ever and for ever.

A thousand suns will stream on thee,

A thousand moons will quiver;

But not by thee my steps shall be,

For ever and for ever.

Alfred Tennyson

My glasses are getting foggy.

“Daddy…..He isn’t BREATHING!!” GULP

I have been dreading this pannel from the first time it was done. Like then I am having tears for the brave and wonderful boy who gave his life to protect his family.

Lynn was one of the few comics writers who authentically aged her characters. We watched the kids grow up and get married. It is authentic to have the family pet die. Unlike Barfy and Sam in Family Circus

If Farley dies, I’m boycotting this comic strip.

April scarred for life.

I can not believe that Lynn Johnston is going to Kill this poor dog again.

Yes, I’m sad about Farley but April needed to go to the hospital, not “go to the house and get warm.”

I knew this strip was coming(how has it been almost 30 years?!)and yet, here I am at the computer, crying.

No Elizabeth, you’re spoiling it for commenters who don’t want to know what happens!

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there.

I did not die.

This always makes me cry. Farley was such a love.

We don’t deserve dogs. Or trolls.

I remember reading that Lynn told a friend Farley is getting old and it’s time for him to pass. She said the friend then told her “You’ve got to make Farley go out a hero.” -- hence the storyline.

I am fearful that we might be seeing the loss of Farley, because they already have a younger dog in the family. this would signal a dramatic change in the family dynamics.

What spoilers are commenters harping about?

John asked what is wrong with Farley and Elizabeth said the dog is not breathing. It is all there is today’s strip. That is no spoiler!

On a lighter note, what are your favorite scenes with Farley? I love the one where he was eating candy canes off the Christmas tree.

I’m dreading towmorrows strip. I can’t take it. :(

In the original FOR BETTER OR WORSE, Farley died too. It wasn’t long until the author decided to change everything and go back to the beginning and restart the stories.

I knew this was coming. I’ve seen it twice before. And I’m STILL in tears. Over a comic strip dog.

I know this is a comic and that this is a reprint. I’ve known since reading the end of the first run what was coming sooner or later. I’m still crying.

His heart was so big, he gave his life to save April.

Please don’t let Farley die

John was taking care of his daughter first. Once Elly had April well in hand, then he turned to Liz and Farley.

Farley getting together with the neighbor’s dog wasn’t an accident. It was meant to be. Farley made sure April will see another day and Farkey’s son will carry on his legacy. Unfortunately, had the parents paid attention to April when she tried to get their attention, none of this would have happened!!!

When I read this the first time it was heartbreaking. Still is …

I know this is a comic but I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. Poor Farley, the hero!

(1) As previously noted here, I thought this story line was very good, and I still feel that way. Just sayin’.

(2) Does anyone remember that Farley’s last appearance (to the best of my knowledge, anyway) in the comics was on Sunday, March 10, 1996, in The Family Circus? One of the kids in the strip wonders if "Granddad [in Heaven] ever gets to play with the Pattersons’ old dog who died . . . " and we see that Farley and Granddad are indeed indulging in a game of fetch.

Bil Keane and Lynn Johnston collaborated on that one. I never liked The Family Circus much; too bland. But the nod to Farley was a good one.

I hope they can save him!

“Daddy?…He isn’t breathing…” — oh, man. Completely gutted. Again. I’ve been following all Lynn Johnston’s comics since 1979, so even though I knew this moment was coming again, and I tried to avoid looking at the strip when it showed up in my email, I felt I had to look again. For Farley. Wow. Lynn sure knew how to get to our hearts. Beautiful, really.

Farewell, Farl. What a good boy. :(

Darnit…this is the only comic strip that makes me cry EVERY TIME. #ilovedfarley

Oh no! Not Farley?!