It wasn’t for better or for worse after all. Lynn Johnston whose “For Better Or For Worse” comic strip is based on life with her husband, Rod Johnston, and their two children, intends to divorce.
“He fell in love with somebody else,” the cartoonist known to a hundred million newspaper readers across North America, told the Chicago Tribune. “It had been over a long period of time,” she said, pausing and adding that it had come as a surprise to her. In fact, she had been planning her retirement to spend more time with her retired dentist husband. Instead he left in April 2007 and she expects to be divorced by April of next year.
In an interview with CBC on Nov. 2, 2007, Johnston was asked about the separation. “I can’t believe it happened, but it did,” she said, holding back tears, not entirely successfully. “People change…feelings change,” said Johnston, now roughly sixty years old, adding that all you can do is wish the person well. Straining to keep her voice stable, she said the separation was being handled with “graciousness” and “care”. But she admitted it had been “tough”.Â
Johnston’s children have not disappointed her though. “I’m just thrilled with my children, the fact that they are adults and they’re not in jail,” she said laughing. The fact that Kate and Aaron are both “my best friends” makes her feel as though she succeeded as a parent. She describes them as “happy, mature, strong, wonderful people.” Kate is an art student and Aaron, she said, is doing well in a career that he started on his own. She raised both her children with Rod Johnston, although her son Aaron was a product of her first marriage.
Johnston, who was raised in North Vancouver, lives in Corbeil in northern Ontario, Canada. She moved there with her children and husband who became a flying dentist with his own plane.
In recent years, Johnston has developed a neurological disorder which at times causes tremors in her arm. For that reason she has an assistant to help with drawings for her comic strip.
Johnston is winding down her comic strip for which she had a 20 year contract. She feels out of touch with “the new electronic age and all the new vocabulary…and the way kids dress and talk.” She fears she would begin to come across like a 60 year old who didn’t know what she was talking about.
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21 users commented in " ‘For Better Or For Worse’ Comic Strip Creator To Divorce "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackDear Mrs. Johnston,
For Better or Worse is the reason I subscribe to our newspaper. I was sorry to read that you will be winding downyour comic strip. I understand your decision, but selfishly regret it. Thanks for providing the warm and natural story about the Patterson family.
P.S. I am glad I am not the only person who is lost on the “information highway” and on today’s life style.
Martha Haas
I have really enjoyed For Better of Worse for years. Though I have not agreed with some of Ms. Johnsons characters portrayed. I have ttruly felt like I have known these people as I have known my own friends and families. Kind of like a soap opera per say. Good Luck Ms.Johnson.May you find your peace in the Good Lord and His grace.
For Better or Worse has been the bright spot for me in the morning paper for at least 20 years. I will miss the Pattersons. I was hoping to see Anthony and Elizabeth have children. To see how Therese would accept having a step-mother. I wanted to see April grow up and see if she chose music as her career. The family became dear friends who have moved away, never to be seen again.
Sob, Sob, Sob.
Marita Martin
Dear Mrs. Johnston,
I was shocked to see the footnote below today’s strip. I’m a 60 yr old married, macho type male but I loved your “cartoon”-I needed to read it every day. On many occasions, like today, I would read it to my wife (and try very hard not to let her see my eyes tear), although it made me laugh and reflect on our lives and marriage numerous times. One of my favorites (altho saddest) is the Sunday strip when Farley died and April is being comforted by Dad. It is hanging above my desk as it gave me comfort when our 17 yr old cat died. Dad’s advice to April was that we don’t know how long we are here for and “that’s why we have to take care of the one’s we love and appreciate every day”. Thank you and take care as you will be missed. Jay
I have LOVED this cartoon for the last 20 years and today for some reason looked at the bottom and saw the notation and was so saddened.We have all watched these characters grow as if they were close family and friends and I too will be sad not to see them continue. And for the record, I thought you were always current and I could see myself and family members because we are in the same age range and experience the same things I totaly felt comfortable and felt like at least I could totally identify with this cartoon. I have laughed and cried and I too valued this as the ONE cartoon I would have wished would just never end. I was also saddened to learn of the divorce – gee maybe that could be the new next chapter – best wishes!
Linda
I have cut out your comic strip for many years and scotch taped them on three ring notebook paper. I don’t know hom many years I have, but it is many. I love your family dearly and will miss them. I have given some of the early books to my daughter in Salt Lake City. She just called to say how sorry she is. The best wishes from Florence Oregon.
Lynn, It was late before I began reading your strip. I must say I enjoyed it. I used it sometimes to compare it with the things that were going on in my own life. It made me think that we all have a family life whether it”s for better or worse. The most important thing is the unconditional love we have for them. Thanks
Your comic strip meant so much to my whole family. The first thing I read in the paper everyday!! A first rate, classy strip that will be sorely missed.
Dear Lynn,
I feel as though I can be so casual because I have lived through your wonderful comic strip a childhood with loving and caring parents I wished I’d had. God Blessed me with a faithful husband for 43 years and much of your wisdom through the Pattersons has influenced that marriage. By the way, 60 is not old and all your common sense and sense of morality is hardly out of step. In fact, it is quite refreshing. I am enjoying the “reruns” and pray you change your mind about retirement. Us olders are important , too. May this day bring you unspeakable joy. M. English
I’VE FOLLOWED YOUR “LIVES” DAILY ON WHAT AMOUNTED TO A “REAL LIFE” TIME SPAN. I FEEL I’VE GROWN OLD WITH YOU ALL. PLEASE ENJOY YOUR
RETIREMENT – I’M GLAD YOU WERE AROUND.
I feel such a connection to your writings, it seemed as if you were writing my life stories. “We” returned to working outside the home at the same time, lost pets together,husband retirement issues, “our’ fathers had strokes at the same time, and even had a third pregnancy later, ours was born exactly a year before yours appeared and we named her Kelsy APRIL.The timing with both your weddings coincided with 2 of our daughters as well and so many more coincidences it was spooky but very entertaining. It was all that I would be able to read when catching up on mounds of unread papers. I was shocked and saddened when it ended but also elated that you would have some time off. I am sorry to hear of your divorce but I think it may be a wake up call to me that I need to pay a bit more attention to my now retired husband of 38 years. Our baby is in college, the others are married and have children, I will miss your new columns, but will have to get used to reviewing what “we”went through by reading the repeats. I’m sorry this is so lengthly, I did want to know if there is a collection of your strips in a book form or any plans of doing that? All the best to you in your future and thank you for your work.
dear cousin,
sorry to hear about you and rod and I want to wish you the best! I don’t know if this will reach you but I hope so. You gave me a cartoon at one time because the kids at school didn’t believe you were related to me! Just wanted to tell you for some reason you have been on my mind and I barely know you. I went through a nasty divorce five years ago and the games continue to this day. I am going to court soon again and the fun begins again. Let me know if you get this somehow and if I don’t hear back from you I will try and locate you to give some support, since this was the one thing I lacked in my divorce.
Please don’t go backwards….I want to see the now Patterson’s…….I’ve enjoyed your strip over the years watching Lizzy grow up and marrying Anthony finally…..April and Michael…..please dont’ go backwards…….
I thought you were on hiatus and regret that you will not be continuing to write your comic strip. I,to, have enjoyed reading your work over the past years and will miss your humor. Perhaps, if it not too painful, you could incorporate your experience into a continuation. Of course I can understand if you would just like to keep your private life well, private. Best wishes from a fan of yours. (Can’t you just delete him rom the stories?)
GRANDCHILDREN ARE UNIQUELY ADAPTED TO COMPUTER
USE AND “WITH IT” (I SPEAK WITH EXPERIENCE). PAM IS CORRECT ABOUT YOUR INSIGHT INTO YOUR PAIN & FRUSATRATION; BUT YOU ARE ALMOST AN ICON
NOW AND YOU MAY LEAVE SOMETHING TO “PASS ON”.
MAYBE THE “KIDS” CAN HELP. TRY.
GRANDCHILDREN ARE UNIQUELY ADAPTED TO COMPUTER
USE AND “WITH IT” (I SPEAK WITH EXPERIENCE). PAM IS CORRECT ABOUT YOUR INSIGHT INTO YOUR PAIN & FRUSATRATION; BUT YOU ARE ALMOST AN ICON
NOW AND YOU MAY LEAVE SOMETHING TO “PASS ON”.
MAYBE THE “KIDS” CAN HELP. TRY.
I really regret the loss of this comic strip. It was more like an enjoyable venture in life and its accompanying growing pains. I feel so let down! I kept up on a daily basis. That would be the first thing I read. Dear lady, don’t let this dicorce destroy your gift of creativity. Write it into your comic strip. After all older men in real life turn stupid and try to regain their youth by running off with some young nothing who will drop him in a coupe of years. Your comic strip was real life.
DEAR MS JOHNSTON,THANK YOU SO MUCH. IVE BEEN BUYING YOUR BOOKS SINCE I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST CHILD. “DAVID WE’RE PREGNANT” WAS THE FIRST AND NOW I HOLD THE LAST. YOUR BOOKS WERE
ALWAYS THERE FOR ME TO READ AND RE READ THRU THE DEATHS OF MY PARENTS, MY 17YR SON AND MOST RECENTLY MY HUSBAND OF 31YRS. YOUR STORY HELPED ME TO COPE AND YOUR INSIGHT HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND. I USED MANY OF YOUR LINES ON MY OWN FAMILY. (THEY WERE REALLY IMPRESSED). YOU’VE DONE A GOOD THING AND I WILL SINCERELY MISS YOUR “FAMILY”. YOU’VE EARNED YOUR REST. AGAIN THANK YOU FROM JOANN IN COUNCIL BLUFFS IA
Dear Ms Johnston, I was looking for yesterday’s comic to send to my daughter. Her son is in the first grade this year. I have loved your comics from the first time I read them, and was sorry to have them end, but continue to enjoy the beginning story.
I didn’t realize you had divorced until today. I am sorry for your pain. I had the same experience, and I don’t think anyone can understand it unless they have been through it.
My divorce was in 1984 so it has been many years. I have been married to a terrific man for almost 10 years and life is very good!
However, I still feel sad for the life I thought I had, that was only an illusion.
I have learned to live here and now, and appreciate the life I have, though, instead of wasting energy regretting what is gone.
Hope life is treating you well..your family has brightened many of my days. God Bless You!
Sue
Dear Lynn,
Wow, do I feel like I know you! I have been reading your comic strip since the beginning. I am 58 and have 3 kids (now also grown). My middle daughter who will be 29 this November, has so much paralleled Elizabeth’s life. I would like to make a scrapbook with the cartoons that are so much like her life. I wish I would’ve saved them all, but I did save quite a few. The cartoons on-line start later than I would like, I would like to obtain ones before Elizabeth went to University and then on. Do you have any suggestions where I can look? I am enjoying the revised reruns. For Better or Worse is the highlight of my day. Thank you for years of sharing, both laughs and tears. Farley even went to doggie heaven about the same time our 14 year old Brandi did. Best wishes to you. Everything will be good for you. : )
Terry
Dear Lynn,
I just wanted you to know that I have almost every book you’ve written. I started to collect them because my son also named Aaron was born when I read your first book. It seemed that I followed you through the years with my son growing at the same time as yours. I was stationed in North Bay and had the pleasure of meeting you and you signed a book for me. I just wanted you to know that I never travel anywhere without buying one of you books and taking it with me. (I’m going to the D.R next week and will be picking up one). Sorry to hear that you have decided not to write anymore (but I understand) you need to know that you are loved by many. Take Care and all the best to you and your family.
Love Diana
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