"She would tell me, 'Buddy, I don't know what I would do without you.' Or she'd say, 'Sit down, Buddy, and stay awhile.'

Aww, such a sad story. I think I read somewhere that in the western world, one in three people lives alone. That leaves a lot of room for loneliness or isolation. I'm not a big people-person myself. (Who would have thunk it? *LOL*) Anyway, some people prefer solitude and like it that way. Some suffer tremendously. How will you know, if you don't reach out? Don't let this happen to your neighbour (or their cats!). Rest in peace Mrs Ballard.

(Would somebody nearby; neighbours, police, rspca, please get those cats picked up! What is wrong with people!? Isn't one sad death enough? Geeez. )

that makes my heart hurt-what a wake-up call-thanks for the clip-i have some letters to write...

What is even more sad is that hermits don't want any more pain from others. When others seek to make closer contact with them, they often run into a "brick wall." Why? They often think that anyone who is intimate with them will guilt induce, punish, exploit, blame, and reject them furiously. They are therefore terrified of opening up their hearts to others and they end up surviving instead of really living or loving. How can one reach out to a person like this? You have to show them how to learn to connect to those who care for them by not withdrawing from others. One gets only as much love as you let in and allow, and doing that allows them to love and be loved by others.