This one... is a complicated one for me to react to. On the one hand, masterfully crafted. All the emotional notes worked for me, all the right heartstrings were pulled. All Resnick stories are well-written, whether I like them or not, but this was a standout.
On the other hand, it felt wrong. Somewhat - and let me stress that I don't think this was Resnick's intention, but just the reaction it evoked in me - exploititive. As if Alzheimer's disease, and the people suffering from it, were being put to use in order to drive a story, rather than this being a story about the disease or its effects. The ending made me tear up when I heard it, but it made me feel bad about feeling sad, as if I allowed myself to be manipulated. Then I felt guilty for feeling like that, because who am I to judge?
I haven't figured out how I feel about the story, or how I feel I should feel about the story. What I do know is that, a few months after hearing it, I still remember the reaction I had quite vividly. There are some who would say that is a success. Another question I still haven't resolved is whether I agree.
