Wow. Beautifully done, and you highlight something that really encompasses not only Ted, but the series as a whole - there is something for everyone. Something that touches us, speaks to us, resonates in our lives. It's the reason that people are still hanging onto this fandom after so many years.

In a way, your story reminds me how I feel about The Body, which I think it truly my favorite episode. Although my grandmother didn't pass suddenly like Joyce, the bright and raw pain, the shock, the gaping hole created in the character's lives so closely echoes what I feel, even years later, when I think about my grandmother. And that's why it speaks to me. And I cry every time I watch it, and actually usually enjoy doing so.

Thank you for sharing your story and your thoughts.