Seaside Sighting
At a chokepoint along a San Diego, California seaside promenade, where the sea sweeps up close to rows of little beachfront cabanas on the shore, and the sandy path narrows so that the steady stream of sightseers must go single file, one of the most exquisitely beautiful women whom I have ever seen fled from a pretty little bungalow. She was very young and very fair, a natural blonde. She wore only sheer, creamy-white lingerie and it swirled around her legs as she leapt in flight toward the sea. Instantly a tall, pale, handsome older man caught her and scooped her up in his arms. He was as fine and fit as a man can be, wearing dark silk loungewear. For a moment he held her tight to himself. She did not cry out or ask for help and only struggled faintly as she murmured complaints. He did not seem to notice that hundreds of tourists played on the beach and flowed down the path in front of his bungalow, and that they might be watching, in fact that they were very likely to be watching. Or perhaps he was aware of how beautiful he and the young woman were and he did not mind exhibiting their tempestuous emotions to the sea and the crowd.
She struggled like a filly unused to being manhandled, and he let her go, but he kept very close to her. He pleaded with her in soft, urgent tones. She turned her back to him in a pout. He leaned around her and soothed her with light strokes. She lowered her wild, flashing eyes and softened into his embrace. If I had paused in the path I would have heard what they were saying but I did not. I had been enthralled by the beauty of their tableaux but I was warded off by the intimacy on display. I did not pause to intrude upon what appeared to be a lovers' quarrel. In three seconds I was away down the path, leaving them forever in the past. In my mind that mysterious girl remains exquisitely beautiful and tremulous in his arms. The man...well, that man was either one of my favorite American actors, Richard Gere, or a remarkable look-a-like. But I've seen him dance as King David in the movie, he moves with the grace of a young God, and my seaside sighting so long ago was of the extravagant Richard Gere and a beautiful young woman.
"Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor and producer. He began in films in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) and a starring role in Days of Heaven (1978). He came to prominence with his role in the film American Gigolo (1980), which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol. He went on to star in many well-received films, including An Officer and a Gentleman..."
Richard Gere as King David dancing.
(screen capture from the movie King David-1985)
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