Mourning

* The front-page picture of the youth waiting in the rain to honor Mother Teresa’s body renders words useless (Sept. 10). Thank you for prominently featuring it.

J.S. KLEINSASSER

Bakersfield

* Your photograph (“Humble Homage”) moves me to tears. Words fail to convey the feelings expressed in that youth’s eyes.

KIN LAM

Los Angeles

* Conrad asks, “Now who’s taking care of the poor?” (Drawingboard, Sept. 9). It will be the same millions of people of all races and walks of life who have and will continue to devote their lives to the needy and the sick, as well as the volunteers who give up their time, weekends and after working all day.

I’m sure Mother Teresa and Princess Diana would be the first to say, “We didn’t do it by ourselves.”

JO CINA

Arcadia

* I wonder why Mother Teresa was never hounded by the paparazzi? Is it because she did not have any ulterior motive in mind while doing her work?

VIJAY P. MANGHIRMALANI

Anaheim

* Bravo to Hali Weiss for “Loosening the Rules for How We Mourn” (Commentary, Sept. 10). My brother Mark died suddenly 2 1/2 years ago. I was totally devastated, but was expected to be back at work days after his death (I took several extra days as vacation), and was admonished by many people to “get on with my life” weeks after his death. I was largely ignored and therefore felt totally isolated. So in addition to dealing with my grief, I had to deal with the non-reaction of others to my grief and my loss.

I think that more than any other experience in life, grief resides way in the back of the closet. It’s about time that we expose it to the light of day, supporting each other with kindness, compassion and understanding.

JACKIE NAIDITCH

Altadena