Best Export Ever

As a Canadian I would like to think one of the greatest export is the comic strip "For Better Or Worse" by Lynn Johnston. For the last 29 years she has made the Pattersons not icons but a family that reflect Canadian life. Throughout the years there have been countless stories involving several topics which is rare in most syndicated comic strips.

There's only a select few strips that have creators allow their characters to grow old, mature and even die. For as long as I can remember I've been following the strip since the birth of April Patterson and long after the death of Farley, the family dog. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that the death of a pet in a comic strip tug at my heart strings like a harp being played for the first time.

Nearly every day I've been a witness to a marriage, divorce, a little girl becoming a teenager and so on and so forth. There's something 'magical' about emerging into this daily strip and being part of their life as if you have known them for as long you can remember. Quite honestly, there's a part of me that's happy to know that the strip won't be retired anytime soon.

Both of my favourite comic strips "Calvin And Hobbes" and the always strange "The Far Side" have retired a whole lifetime ago. I remember the first time when my best friend got me reading "Calvin and Hobbes" and had me thinking of how warped six year old can be. Maybe in real life 'Calvin' would be the type of child to have a child psychiatrist to either seek therapy, sent to the mental hospital or even maybe both.

Nonetheless as I grow older the only one certain thing I know is the fact I'll find comedy whether it be on television, movies or even an event in my life. But when it comes to my daily rituals I can always find some sort of comfort in four panels of ink. It will always be the true thing in my life that makes everything else seem simple and pure.