Living with Delicate Courage

I have a partner that is not only fun to be with but witty and a good writer as well. While we started to first get our lives intertwined, I found out that Jim had been working on a book for quite some time. It actually took him more than twenty years to complete. I asked more and more questions about it, and finally he gave me a copy of the manuscript to read. It was a very touching and loving story of his life, dealing with many issues and people who had changed they way he looked upon life and all that it offers us. I thought it was very well done.
Finally, after three years of waiting, making excuses of why we couldn't or shouldn't, we finally decided to move in together and share the same living space. Both of us had previous long-term relationships, and neither of us was in a rush to jump back into that situation again. We both brought our own "stuff" into the relationship, me more so than he. But that's another story!
I would stay up late at night watching TV, or working on the computer. He would go to bed at a normal hour. I ran across the manuscript again, and started to re-read it. I decided to prod him a bit to get back to it, and he said he was thinking about it. I kept prodding until he did start to work on it. And he worked really hard on it, getting feedback from friends, re-reading it several times. He got some really good friends to help with editing the manuscript as well, and they were all happy and willing to do so. I think by the time it went to print he had edited it about 12 times or so. But Delicate Courage finally made it to print, and his story was out there.
I helped as much as I could with whatever I could do to make it happen for him. Computer stuff mainly, then helping to promote the book after it was printed. Helping to promote the first book signing, what ever I could do to help. And I did get a little hurt after it went to print, that the dedication did not include me. I probably would have included my current partner in my dedication if I had written a book. But it was written many years before I came into the picture, and most of the book was about his previous partner. I am very happy for him and the life that we have created together, and that does not change.
Now Delicate courage has taken up many of our days together. We are constantly talking about something to do with the book, or an upcoming gig that he has pertaining to the book. Keeping records for the book, finding new ways to promote the book, and how he reacts to the public when he is recognised from the news articles written about him. And now his is off to New York, to be on NBC nightly news with Chuck Scarborough. So, more to talk about surrounding the book. I am very proud of him, and love him dearly. And I love the delicate courage that we share together...........
Jeff Allen