Seven year old Emily's best friend is her grandpa Harry. He's never been especially close to anyone else in his family, but he adores Emily and the special bond between the two is evident to all. When Harry is diagnosed with Alzheimers, he's determined that he not mess up his relationship with Emily as he's done with Emily's father, Harry's son. He wants to be remembered for the caring grandfather he's been to her, not the angry dementia riddled man he is becoming, and falling deeper into every day. So he starts writing letters to her on his computer during his lucid periods, and saving them with passwords Emily will need to locate to unlock the letters. When Harry passes, there are three books of his poems bound together. His son gets one, his daughter another, and the last goes to Emily. In each of these poems is a password to a letter. As they delve into the letters, more of Harry's terse relationship with his children and the unease of their childhoods is explained, and a certain degree of forgiveness and understanding towards their father is given.

This book was recommended to me by a co-worker whose family member is suffering Alzheimers. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimers and I never got to know her rather than her disease. This book really touched home, and I wondered what she would have written had she had the time to write her life for her progeny. Sadly, she didn't get the chance to do so. This was a heartwarming tribute to those who are crippled with this heartbreaking disease, and gives pause to honor who they were rather than what they became. A short story that packs a big punch, I really recommend this book.