I WOULD like to point out a few things in reference to Ellen Goodman’s Oct. 23 op-ed “The $250 donation to elders.’’ Perhaps older Americans suffered fewer mortgage foreclosures because so many of us have paid our mortgages for years and didn’t refinance or take risky mortgages, as many younger people did. Those older Americans affected by the stock market meltdown do not have the years left in life to recoup their losses. As far as cost-of-living expenses decreasing, I have yet to see my real estate tax bill decrease (if anything, many people are paying more regardless of age).
As for all of the struggles younger families are going through, we have already been there. Do you think life was a bowl of cherries when we were working hard to provide for our children’s education and other needs? Our generation did not indulge ourselves, and in our senior years many of us still work, not for pleasure but for need.
So don’t begrudge us $250 that probably wouldn’t buy two tickets and dinner to an event. For those who so choose, donate your $250 to whatever charity you like. For most seniors, we would say thank you for the $250.
Muriel Cecere, Lynnfield 
