Caitlyn's First Response to Neil's Reader Response

Dear Neil,
     I totally agree with what you say about how our lives today are much easier than back then. Everybody today takes things for granted, not like the McCourt's back then. It's amazing how they handled the situations they were thrown into. Thankfully, I never had to experience something like this as a child, but I can imagine what McCourt felt like. It must be difficult living every day when you know you probably won't have enough to eat. Many other people experienced this at this time period, known as the Great Depression. America was hit the hardest. It must have been hard to keep up a family of 5 children with only one welfare check. I found this website, http://iws.collin.edu/kwilkison/Online1302home/20th%20Century/DepressionNewDeal.html, that shows how people lived in this time period and how they managed to get through with little to no money. I feel that the McCourt's will pull through this rough patch. I know a bit about the Great Depression and what people felt, but I cannot imagine what it must be like to go hungry almost every single night because your father is out spending money on beer instead of food. It must have been very tough to survive, but it looks like the McCourt's will be fine. Also, on the topic of McCourt's father, Malachy, he is a traditional Irishman, one who drinks his weight in alcohol every day. There is really nothing he can do to help himself in this time period. The family doesn't have enough money for him to go see a councelor or a psychiatrist, and he is addicted to alcohol, so he can't just stop. It seems weird, but he can't stop, even if he tried.  Even with all of those problems, I probably couldn't even survive through losing 3 children. It was sad to read that Mararget, Eugene, and Oliver died at such a young age, but with the way that this family acts, you could almost predict thatthey would lose some children to hunger or sickness. I myself have been fortunate enough to only lose one family member at a time, but it has still affected me greatly. I could not imagine what the McCourt's felt. Also, on the topic of culture, my family does do things relative to our nationalities. My Nani, who is my mother's mother, used to cook a big meal of spaghetti and meatblls every Sunday and invite my aunts, uncles, and cousins over like the do in Italy. Also, my Nani's family  tends to throw big parties for special occasions, and they invite all 720 relatives to the parties. Even though that was an exaggeration, you get my point. I love to see how the McCourt's follow the traditional Irish culture, and I can't wait to continue reading.
Yours Truly,
Caitlyn