People Who Still Need People

Thank you for your article, “The Pack-Rat Syndrome” (by Jesse Katz, April 20). I found it very interesting and it is certainly a subject that seems to confront us more and more these days.

Today life is fast, impersonal and often hard, even more so in the large metropolitan areas. People move away and lose contact with their relatives, with the result that for some life can become very lonesome in a big city. Add to this a little adversity and some people just give up trying to stay in the fast mainstream of life.

We need other people, we crave for attention and love. But this gregariousness also motivates us to shave in the morning, to clean house when we expect visitors. When people’s need for association is no longer satisfied, and the phone is cut off because of an unpaid bill or property taxes cannot be paid, a job cannot be found, some people just give up. Why shave in the morning, why clean up? And things get from bad to worse.

I doubt if we can expect much if we look for the government to deal with this problem. Only we, each and everyone of us, can do something by taking the time to show kindness to our parents, to our neighbors, a friendly visit, perhaps a meal together or a little gift, some flowers that say: I love you.

PETER J. VAN OVERBEEK,

Glendale