Overview

"A love story with an unexpectedly happy ending, The Actual Dance is told through the eyes and heart of a husband as he struggles with his worst fears during what everyone expects to be his wife's losing battle to breast cancer. Determined to support the ""other half of his whole,"" he provides the positivity his love partner demands and the caregiving she needs. He doesn't share his fears, even as he becomes more certain of her upcoming demise. He also keeps his visits to the virtual ballroom-where each one of us will exit into eternity-secret until he begins to wonder if he's losing his mind. Like the play upon which it was based, The Actual Dance will take you on an emotional but uplifting journey and reward you with a universal, life-affirming lesson of hope, faith and love."

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9781737909729

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Reviews

This beautiful book is a poignant reminder of all we take for granted in our lives. This book will cause you to think differently and more deeply about the day-to-day interactions with the one you love most in your life and certainly cause you to hug that person just a little tighter. -William Kennard, chairman of AT&T's board of directors, former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, former chair of the Federal Communications Commission The Actual Dance is beautiful, powerful, and timeless in its messages. I hope this is very widely read and absorbed. -James Fallows, award-winning and bestseller author, contributing writer at The Atlantic, a former editor of U.S. News & World Report Written from the perspective of a husband whose wife was just diagnosed with cancer. Sam describes his journey with the metaphor of a dance, 'The Actual Dance, ' that is controlling his mind. A must-read. -Eileen Robin Filler-Corn, 56th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, lawyer, former advisor to U.S. Senator Mark Warner A rarely heard voice in the breast cancer journey. Sam gives voice to the depth of his love and fear of loss. The story itself is a metaphor for a ritual we know will come. It is a story of what love really means. -Congressman Gerry Connelly, U.S. Representative from Virginia's 11th congressional district, former chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. In The Actual Dance, Sam Simon weaves together the fascinating story behind his writing and producing a play of the same name with the real-life events he experienced while confronting his wife Susan's cancer. The integration of these two realities strengthens the poignancy of each, and we, the readers, benefit profoundly. With intimate detail, Sam recounts the oft-untold emotional roller coaster of the caregivers who endure the life-threatening illness of a loved one. The story is universal, and I highly recommend it for everyone. -Reverend Robert Chase, former director of communications for United Church of Christ, founding director of Intersections International, award-winning video producer and director

"""This beautiful book is a poignant reminder of all we take for granted in our lives. This book will cause you to think differently and more deeply about the day-to-day interactions with the one you love most in your life and certainly cause you to hug that person just a little tighter."" -William Kennard, chairman of AT&T's board of directors, former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, former chair of the Federal Communications Commission ""The Actual Dance is beautiful, powerful, and timeless in its messages. I hope this is very widely read and absorbed."" -James Fallows, award-winning and bestseller author, contributing writer at The Atlantic, a former editor of U.S. News & World Report ""Written from the perspective of a husband whose wife was just diagnosed with cancer. Sam describes his journey with the metaphor of a dance, 'The Actual Dance, ' that is controlling his mind. A must-read."" -Eileen Robin Filler-Corn, 56th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, lawyer, former advisor to U.S. Senator Mark Warner ""A rarely heard voice in the breast cancer journey. Sam gives voice to the depth of his love and fear of loss. The story itself is a metaphor for a ritual we know will come. It is a story of what love really means."" -Congressman Gerry Connelly, U.S. Representative from Virginia's 11th congressional district, former chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. ""In The Actual Dance, Sam Simon weaves together the fascinating story behind his writing and producing a play of the same name with the real-life events he experienced while confronting his wife Susan's cancer. The integration of these two realities strengthens the poignancy of each, and we, the readers, benefit profoundly. With intimate detail, Sam recounts the oft-untold emotional roller coaster of the caregivers who endure the life-threatening illness of a loved one. The story is universal, and I highly recommend it for everyone."" -Reverend Robert Chase, former director of communications for United Church of Christ, founding director of Intersections International, award-winning video producer and director"

Author Information

Sam Simon describes himself as being engaged in his fourth age of life, as a playwright and performer. The lawyer and original Nader's Raider likes to say that this era of his life found him, as did the story of The Actual Dance itself, after his wife was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer. He wrote the play, The Actual Dance, which inspired this memoir, in 2012 and began performing in 2013. The play has been performed hundreds of times since then. Both the book and the play are autobiographical.

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