I’m rather over sensitive to saccharine, disliking it in both food stuff and sentiment. Not detected any in these pieces so far!

What I am feeling conveyed is a depth of warmth and affection, which I don’t sense as having faded any over the years, even if time has the capacity to render memory fuzzy and pain perhaps just a little less sharp edged.

It’s a beautiful tribute.

I’m very impressed by your ability to write, not merely from the perspective of another person, but in a way that does come across as reflecting their actual voice from the past — especially when it comes to describing Brad’s relationship with your own younger self, his thoughts and feelings about ‘Jim’ (and you very fairly and accurately portray yourself as very human, not always perfect, in your interactions).