PURPLE HAZE
When I saw your Sept. 20th cover, “Rocks Off,” promising the best 200 songs of the ’70s, you earned a big “Hell yeah!” I love lots of ’70s music and figured I could find some “new” old songs from before my time. Then I opened the paper and found a list of the top 200 albums. Albums? Oh well, it’s your paper.
I built a bridge and got over it and went looking for the ranking of the albums from my favorite band, Deep Purple. They were nowhere on the list. One of the greatest hard rock bands (VH1’s No. 22) who peaked in the early ’70s, one of the founders of metal before metal was, and they had not a single album make the list. That’s a joke. Your critics may be “hungover from bicentennial blooz”, but it would be nice if they didn’t just phone it in. FYI: Machine Head, 1972, featuring “Smoke on the Water,” “Space Truckin’, “Highway Star,” and “Lazy.”
The previous two issues of CL were very good; they were interesting and had me laughing. But if I’m gonna keep shelling out the big bucks for your rag I expect higher quality than that latest issue.
— John Zomberg, Charlotte
WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?
I have to comment on your article about the “cat ladies” (“I Am Cat Lady, Hear Me Meow,” Sept. 27) because as excellent as it was, there is one angle that you missed: What becomes of children living in the homes of animal hoarders? I am part of an organization called Children of Hoarders and we are advocating specifically for that group of people: both young and adult children of hoarders who must live with the consequences of a parent who hoards.
As children, we are shaped by the influence of an authority figure with obsessive compulsive disorder. As adults, we often find ourselves burdened with an incredible responsibility when, inevitably, the physical circumstances of hoarding completely overwhelm our aging parents (most of whom are in complete denial about the problem).
If you research animal hoarding as it relates to child abuse, there is a strong link between violence against animals and violence against family members — where animals are abused, spouses and children are often victims as well. In terms of animal hoarding, the issue is neglect, and it seems that few people are drawing attention to how animal hoarding might reflect further dysfunction within the home; animal protective services are satisfied when the animals are rescued and physical evidence of their neglect is removed.
Our organization is urging people to consider the pathology that causes hoarding (of all types) in the first place. As your article explained, hoarders fail to see how their behavior harms animals; their distorted view of reality is staggering. Where animals are suffering from neglect and their owners fail to recognize it, we must consider how this lack of insight is coloring all relationships in the home. Removing the animals and cleaning up the mess does not begin to address the problems at play in a hoarded home. With or without the accumulated animals and mess, the children are living with the same parent with the same mental disorder.
–Elizabeth Nelson, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Children of Hoarders,
www.childrenofhoarders.com
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Brio my way: I’ve been to Brio three times, once for lunch, twice for dinner. I am not a celebrity. As I read your comments (“Lessons in Bad Service,” Sept. 27) I kept think “this can’t be the same restaurant” On the three times I’ve been there the food was very good, the service flawless, bread basket and water glasses constantly refilled, and the experience noteworthy enough to make me look forward to the next meal. The first time I had dinner I brought in a group of 22 women. The table was set and waiting for us. Our waiter was courteous and professional. It is amazing to see 22 entrees arrive at the table and be set down at once. One error (wong dish) was substituted quickly and pleasantly. Next time come to dinner with me, I’ll guarantee you a much better time.
— Colette Riney
This article appears in Oct 4-10, 2006.
