September 30th, 2009

Prior to working on the biography of Libbie Custer’s life, I assumed she wasn’t aware that George drank, played cards, and bet on the horses. But George was completely forthcoming about his vices before they married. Libbie decided to ignore his shortcomings and even went so far as to write her cousin and boast her new husband had no faults apart from cursing from time to time. She must have been harboring some misconception that after they married George would be a changed man. Love and deep admiration is silly that way. I believe Libbie had no idea what she was getting into when she married Custer. She walked on the ground he worshipped. She convinced herself that his philandering was all in her imagination and even if it did happen, he would always come home to her in the end. I can identify with her thought process. I was once married to someone just like that. After we divorced I wrote a play about the relationship entitled Lucy which won a couple of awards at college. It was really the inspiration I needed to pursue a career in writing. Custer’s roving eye and inability to manage his gambling habits inspired Libbie to write as well. She made a fortune writing and lecturing about her life with George. My broken heart wasn’t quite so financially lucrative, but it set me on the path I believe I was intended to be on and for that I’m grateful. Thanks, Roy. After doing the preliminary research for the book about Libbie I believe she was the type of woman who would have asked her husband during an argument, “Tell me, George, if you had to do it all over would you fall in love with yourself again?” I know how the Custer’s story ends, but the development of their relationship to that point has been most interesting. Hope readers of this tome, due for release next Christmas, will think the same.