He was an Oscar winner. Robert Forester looked at me after going to see him locally to speak about his life. Bob (Robert)Forester signed autographs as I waited for him on the stage to finish. I sat posing on the stage behind him. I never have asked for autographs when I could have. Even when I was around famous people. Perhaps because I had been asked for my own autograph when I was young and had been on TV. Bob and I began talking about a friend of ours and someone I had a relationship with, an Artist Ramon Santiago. Robert Forester then looked at me and said, “You are a beautiful woman.” I didn’t feel he was flirting. It seemed to be a matter of fact for him. I am sure of that as I can be as my mind was spinning after what he said. A truth from him as he left to go with his long time friend.
When I went to see him, I thought he might be full of himself with ego. He was anything but that. Solid and kind. How my perceptions can be warped in admiration. He talked about his daughters and what he told them as they grew. I wished he was my father. I want to go back to the College where he spoke and see if I could look at the recording. I remembered them filming. His words are in my spirit wishing I had such a solid father. All this told me more about myself.
He and I had once sat in a coffee shop near where I worked at the time in Rochester, NY. I probably asked him for coffee. No, maybe he asked me. We were pretty people as I look back. I was on a mission and I filled myself with fun where I could. He was a rising star who traveled between Rochester and LA. I really wanted to know more about our mutual friend then. But having fun in the late 60’s and 70’s was what we did and we could. Seems to be a part of me and how I lived. I brought a piece of artwork from Ramon he had given me. Proof I had a relationship with Bob’s friend.
That night I went to see Bob Forester speak in Buffalo. I had been led to his talk by chance. I don’t usually read the newspaper and I picked one up to look for a movie. There had been a large photo of him and I wanted to see what was up. There was an article of Robert Forester speaking the next day. I called and said I was going to be at his talk and was an old friend of Ramón Santiago. Ramon had been an artist rising nationally. I heard Cher had bought one of his paintings. Cher and I had similar hair at the time wild tendrils. Ramón’s paintings of women who were the same. That was where the similarity ended. Cher’s body was more voluptuous than mine.
I was not going to miss the opportunity to meet again. Little did I know that he would tell me “I was a beautiful woman.” I proceeded with this new found awareness and attention about myself in my need to feel beautiful. I was then having my inner world validated. I hadn't recognized my beauty in my heart's truth. Aging gracefully was my desire. Robert Forester led me to believing in this need.
I’ve been told that I treat my life as if I am going to live forever, gifted with my natural ability to live in the moment. Now as I have more years behind me I know this attitude is not going to work for me.
