Here's to you Mr. Breathed ! We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the insults...no wait, that's not write...it's to be for da love & care, etc... So what can we say, have a most 'xlnt remainder. Tell da kids of how happy they should be as they weren't Stuffed & Mounted. But do know that happiness is a Grandchild(s)! You have given us so many years of yourself to us, now take some for you.

P.S. The Gators are still doing okay in L. Travis, they miss you.

I tried to enter my answer, but discovered that it was twice as long as the contest allowed.

I'll share the complete answer with you all on Oct. 20th.

Opus is on my mind, entering the department of memories.

November 2, 2008 Opus was seen at Cafe Paradise,in Saint Paul, MN. Sipping Cocunut juice with the Publishers & Editors of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Opus should be where he started as a "being"..in Antartica.

There he will feel right at home, comfortable with HIS natural surroundings...and not your makebelieve ones...and warm and cuddly with some female of his species.

The Bow-wow in the animal shelter? Of course, he is the warm and cuddly for the Bora Bora ladies..

Felicity Huffman is participating in a promotion this month to adopt one million animals from shelters. It is estimated that there are over 8 million waiting for homes. The catch to Opus' prize is, of course, that you don't get said $10,000. That $10,000 is to be donated to the shelter of YOUR choice. At least you get to pick said shelter.

Opus is a penguin. I suspect he'd like to go where all his breathern are: the South Pole. (which is melting due to humans)....

I have made my guess as to where Opus' final paradise will be. With that done, I just want to thank Mr. Breathed for all the years he has shared his Opus with us. I will miss your humor and insight.

...according to a recent NPR interview, is not because of any medical condition. He was actually planning ending Opus immediately after the election. Why? He thought that the political landscape was heading to ever-darker territory, and he had no interest in wading in it further.

Which is part of why ending this strip is so bittersweet. Breathed always reveled in zinging the nuttiness of the political system and modern life in general, but he (and Opus in particular) always had a sweet side that would emerge in all three of his strips, a side that wanted to just get away from it all and just be at peace.

Which is why Opus' final destination is fairly obvious to anyone who has followed the strip(s) even casually. And it's also why cynical old me is tearing up a bit while re-reading the last few.

...but this is getting to be a little much. I loved "Bloom County" and Opus is one of my favorite characters but this is the third time, now, that Breathed is making his readers say 'farewell' to him. Moreover, just like in "Bloom County" he's drawing this out to an almost embarrassing level. For six weeks now he's had us speculating over Opus's mortality. Steve Dallas, in one of the final Bloom County cartoons, complained that "MASH was retired with more dignity than this." Well, turning essentially a bet into whether or not Breathed will turn Opus into "permanent penguin pate" makes the MASH farewell seem positively Shakespearean. Breathed can do whatever he wants with his characters - and if he wants to insure that the Features Syndicates can't resurrect him with a different cartoonist after Breathed's demise, that's his right. But, please, for the love of God, just end it already. Breathed as turned what was once the one of the sharpest, funniest cartoon strips (in its 1980s format) into a treacly Hallmark special.

Holy Honkers, some of you people are right out there in LaLa Land! Come on with all the psycho BS...the pup's heading for Bora and Opus should be waffting daisies atop the hill in Bloom County. The entire crew will be missed big time. First "Calvin and Hobbs", now "Opus" and "Bloom County" ("Outland", whatever....) What's the world coming to!

then Opus's paradise must be people-free. This presents a problem, since we've swarmed the Earth. Space! The Last Penguin Frontier!

Opus may be granted `Paradise of choice. Collies with soft fur, or a Penguin dressed in a black and white tuxedo. Penguin paradise must be where wobbling 'birds' gather to avoiding humans.

Who imagines? A Place. Somewhere. A penguin's sanctuary.

No mired any longer in soggy tears, only lots of `gigglings.

Laughing or crying is to be approaching the heaven horizon.

It's the brink sensation and full happy sense of anticipating.

It's to be in a wonderful restful Place. A sorta celestial haven.

Paradise Lost, regained. A reward.`Resting Place of Penguin.

It better be a Place any Opus can grow long pony-tail-wisps.

Fellow Penguin may hair-braid-locks, and sadness dissipates.

Opus won't wonder, nor complain of poor quality Penguin fish chowder, bones or scales in the thorax, no more. A sweet lollipop is licked for enjoyment, great pleasure, and full flavor. The most important? A cozy blanket is warm, and comfortable to share. Opus snuggles a squirrels.

Where will Opus's final paradise be? Who knows? Hope it's not here. A busy place would stink.

Opus, you cannot leave. When is Steve going to bail him out along with his new canine friend? Opus is so kind, is he being destroyed for his political outlook? A scary thought but we know it happens. He and his new friend must go to the same place where his wonderful,kind, sweet, honest personality will shine for all of us who truely know him will be able to remember him forever.

Bora Bora is a real place. It's in the Society Islands not far from Tahiti.

Bora Bora has a half mile high volcano. Tropical paradise of course.