Review: SWEET AND SOMETHING SPECIAL IS FOUND IN THIS ONE
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 25, 2011
Well I personally liked this well written and bittersweet little story.  As the plot has been very well done by a couple of other reviewers here, I will be brief as to that subject.A lady has been struck-down with crippling arthritis; an invalid in reality.  Her life has been more or less reduced to her apartment, house plants and painting.  Her son and her friend and neighbor are her only real contacts with the outside world.  There is a strong note of bitterness, anger and yes, self pity noted in this quickly developed character.Her son has talked this lady into hosting a special Olympic athlete for the weekend.  The entire short story covers only a few hours; the beginning hours of the weekend.This is one of those stories that tell a story without the use of words.  Often times a skilled writer can say more in the unsaid than that which is recorded.  This is so in the case of this short work.  In a few lines the reader, if they let themselves, can imagine an entire life time of this lady and with a little effort can project themselves into her situation; likewise with the special Olympian.Now on a personal note relative to this story; I have been involved with the Special Olympics in the past and have spent quite a number of years working with the elderly and physically handicapped people of this world.  I can assure you that this author has nailed his characters and situations and attitudes perfectly.  He has done this with relatively few words; well chosen words I grant you, but never-the-less, few.  This is a very good bit of skillful writing.  I was able to connect quite well with this work on several levels.I suspect that those who search for whistles and bells in their reading or are unfamiliar or unsympathetic with the emotional needs and dilemmas many people deal with each day may not have the ability to connect with this particular story.  That is okay though, we are all individuals; different strengths, different life experiences, attitudes and such all have their effects.For me, this was a good read written by a very skillful writer.  It was more than worth my time reading it...and perhaps I even learned a bit from it.Don BlankenshipThe Ozarks