AFTER A HALF A CENTURY OF CHARLIE BROWN'S STRUGGLE WITH LIFE, CHARLES SCHULZ IS RETIRING

You're a good man, Charles Schulz.

It is said all good things must come to an end, and so it is with one of America's most beloved comic strips, "Peanuts."

Creator Charles Schulz has written, drawn, colored and lettered every "Peanuts" strip for nearly 50 years. But the 77-year-old artist is retiring at the new year. He was recently diagnosed with colon cancer.

Why was the "Peanuts" gang so popular? Perhaps because we could see a bit of ourselves in these childhood characters with human flaws.

Who hasn't been Charlie Brown at least once in his life: fumbling a catch, trusting someone you shouldn't, afraid to share a secret crush, disappointed to be last again? But despite life's rejection, Charlie Brown wasn't afraid to try again. He always kept a gleam of hope that tomorrow would be better.

Schulz' work differed from many other comics that simply dished up a joke of the day. Schulz' endearing creations became part of the family -- reaching millions of readers each day in 75 countries.

The last new daily installment will appear Jan. 3. Will Lucy finally let Charlie Brown kick the football? Will his wayward kite miss the tree? Will he finally tell the little red-haired girl how he feels? Will Linus ever see the Great Pumpkin and give up his blanket? Will Snoopy shoot down the Red Baron once and for all?

Probably not. Life doesn't wrap itself up in neat little packages.

After half a century, the characters created by Charles Schulz have become a part of it.

Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy -- will be missed by children and adults alike.