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That Fateful Fourth

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onthebeach2

Year: 1994

Scene: San Diego, specifically Ocean Beach

Cast of Characters: a teacher/coach and an actor, along with a host of actors, designers, directors

On that Fateful Fourth, a woman woke up in her apartment in the Hillcrest section of San Diego. She had just finished her first year of teaching in the Graduate Acting Program at USD/Old Globe and was now in the midst of coaching a production of Brian Friel’s Wonderful Tennessee. But that had been put on hold while she was on Jury Duty for five days. The Fourth was a welcome break from a tedious trial and she and her great and good friend Rick were going to their friend Kathy’s home on the beach. She decided to make guacamole as her contribution to the party. (Kathy’s parties were renowned around the Globe; there was always an ongoing barbecue, with staff from the Old Globe, and visiting actors and designers who were in town for the summer making an appearance throughout the day. At the end of the day, everyone walked a hundred feet or so to the beach to watch the fireworks.)

By the way, that was the first and only time she made guacamole.

Sometime in the afternoon, Rick picked her up and they drove out to Ocean Beach. It was a beautiful day, and the house was full of friends and colleagues and laughter and great conversation. As the day went on, this woman was in and out of the house, talking to everyone and especially enjoying the company of those actors she was coaching in Wonderful Tennessee.

A peculiar thing happened. Every time she came in the house, a man who was sitting on the sofa would smile at her. I mean…every time.

A bit of back story: She knew who this man was. He was an actor. She’d seen him onstage the summer before when she flew out to San Diego for her job interview. On a break from the stressful interviews, class teaching, and constant smiling that goes hand-in-hand with this sort of interview, she went to see a production of Morning’s at Seven. Included in the cast were her friend Kathy (who she knew from her time at Boston University) and several other actors, including a guy who played the character of Homer. She remembered liking his performance very much and looking at his bio in the program, along with his headshot. He was back at the Globe to play Malvolio in Twelfth Night.

He didn’t know who she was, but he asked around and found out.

She was normally shy in this kind of situation, but after a certain number of smiles, she found herself going over to where he was sitting (which happened to be next to her friend Rick) and introducing herself. She was invited to sit down and join the group on the sofa, whereupon she and this man starting talking about themselves and the curious state of being in their early forties. He had just turned 43. She was still 41.

They talked and laughed and really liked each other.

Later on, when the convivial group was sitting on the beach to watch the fireworks, she noticed him catching her eye and smiling. She smiled back.

When she and Rick were ensconced in his car and headed homeward, she kept thinking about this guy and smiling. He’d definitely made an impression.

A week or so went by with the woman feeling like she was back in high school, engineering ways to run into him at the theater. Each time they saw each other they learned a bit more about each other. One day, they ran into each other in the courtyard of the theater and sat on a bench and talked some more, whereupon the man asked her if she’d like to go to a movie with him once Twelfth Night  opened.

She answered in the affirmative.

There were some delays. His production had to open. Her production was in technical rehearsals and her friend Joe was coming to visit for a week. In the meantime, one of her students who was understudying the lead in Twelfth Night  had to go on one night during previews, so she went to see the play and was blown away by the performance of this man as Malvolio. She says to this day that he was the most brilliant and funny Malvolio she has ever seen. Her friend Rick turned to her during the performance and said “He is absolutely brilliant!!” and she shyly confided to Rick that she was going to go on a date with him soon. After the show, she waited for the man so she could tell him how wonderful he was as Malvolio and they hugged each other.

Her show finally opened and the opening night party was at a local restaurant and this man came to the party and proceeded to flirt with her and basically spend most of the evening at her side. When he offered to drive her home, she went to get her purse and found it had been stolen. Everyone looked for it, but it was gone. The man, seeing how troubled she was, drove her home (she can’t remember why she had the keys to her apartment when they should have been in her purse, but she did) and after making sure she would be alright, walked her up the three steps to her door, whereupon he surprised her by kissing her rather passionately right there on the steps.

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Those steps, right there on the first floor.

She found herself feeling a curious mix of emotions, worry about her wallet and her credit cards, and the fact that an extra key to her apartment was in that wallet which meant she would have to change the locks, as well as lingering memories of that kiss. He called the next day to check on her.

Finally, one Monday – the day off at the theater – they went on that date, which ended up taking place on the beach, where they talked and talked and talked. When he drove her home, he came inside and he proceeded to lay another kiss on her that literally made her lose her balance and nearly fall over.

She says that he is the best kisser, ever.

They’re still together.

Happy 22nd Anniversary, my love.

Happy Monday to all of you. Happy Fourth of July.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Comments

  4. You are still newlyweds to me and my husband of fifty years next month! A lovely story you two have lived.

  5. It’s so much fun to hear people’s stories of how they met. Each is a special love story. Happy anniversary!

  7. Congratulations! I love stories of how couple meet. My guy and I were cast in the same production of Tom Sawyer at the big theatre in the city. Found out we had been at the same junior high and high school for six years and never once ran in to each other but 2 weeks after grad, we were cast as a couple and that kept happening for several years in different productions and projects. Love at first sight (yes it can exist) and still in love 35 years later!!

    Enjoy your special day. Hope the fireworks later are amazing!

    P.S. Did you ever get your purse back?

    • I love your story Chy!

      I did get it back. Some repairman who was working on a phone in a phone booth found it and called me, driving it all the way to my apartment. The cash was missing, but everything else was there.

      • I love our story too. Every time we get to work together now, after all these years and all these kids, I still feel like we’re 18!

        Glad you got your purse back. I’ve never lost any id but hear that it’s very difficult to replace everything after a loss or theft.

        Happy 4th of July!

        • I’ve been robbed three times – twice, my wallet/purse was stolen, the other time involved some jewelry.

  10. Ahhhhh! True love is definitely worth waiting for!
    Congratulations on another anniversary dear Claudia and Don – I just know there will be many, many more.

    Hugs to you both, Mary

    P.S. wish we had some of that Calif. sunshine here for the 4th – such a dark, dank, dreary day!!!

    • It’s sunny here today, Mary. I’m sorry the weather there is less than sunny!

  11. What a lovely beginning Claudia. My Carl and I dated for only three months before we married. No one thought it would last except us. Forty two years later and we are still going strong. Isn’t it amazing how the love you felt for each other in the beginning, which was incredibly strong, is only a drop in the bucket to how you feel after being together year in and year out? Congratulations Claudia and Don! May your love story continue forever.

  12. Love your story! Happy Anniversary! Our falling in love anniversary is this weekend too. 40 years after a weekend camping trip in Napa with frIends. I took him home and have kept him! Best Kisser in No. Cal. Don can have So. Cal.!

  15. There are some stories I never get tired of hearing…yours is one of those! Happy Anniversary to you both!! ;)

  16. I love your story. It is magical.
    I see someone shared their story so I will share mine. On August 23, 1986 my husband and I met at my cousin’s wedding. It was beautiful and romantic. It was in the woods where my cousin lived. This man was such a gentleman. He actually stood up when any woman would come to talk or to leave our circle. Yes,he did! He was always making sure we women had everything we needed. Not because he thought we couldn’t take care of our own needs, but because he wanted to take of them for us. He was handsome and distinguished. We went for a walk that afternoon. Not talking, just enjoying the woods. Our first date was over Labor Day weekend. He met my son then. Four years later we were married. We just celebrated our 26th.
    Happy anniversary Claudia and Don.

  17. Happy Anniversary!! Loved the story of how you met – so sweet! Can see why you fell for each other!

  18. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story. It made me smile!
    Happy anniversary.

  20. I always get goosebumps when I read a story of how two people met and fell in love and yours has me covered in them! Wishing you both a wonderful anniversary and many, many more happy and joyful years together.

  23. A very Happy Anniversary! Your story is almost like one which could be plucked out of a good film. For the two of you it is most appropriate!

    Hope your day is wonderful and please tell Don we began watching Mr. Robot (on Acorn TV) and love both the series and his role. The first scene we saw him in I remarked to my husband that the wardrobe people must have seen the video you did of the Studio review. I love the way confortable suits him!

  24. That was wonderful. Thank you, Claudia. You add a few new details every time. I can feel the excitement of new love in your words. So romantic.
    I have a special request. How about if Don does a guest post next year, and tells the story from his point of view? ♡♡♡
    Blessings on your anniversary.

    • That is a wonderful idea Nancy…I would love hearing his version..Don?

      • Please let us know how he reacts to the idea.
        If he can write a song, he’s a storyteller, right?

        • He’s written posts on this blog in the past – when he went to Prague for filming PBS American Experience.

  25. I will never get tired of hearing your love story..even more wonderful is the way that you two have kept that feeling going…You never falter in your love and respect for each other..That my friends is what makes a true lasting love story…and that is what I admire most about the two of you…Happy Finding Each Other Day…xoxo

  26. It was in the stars!!!! OR should we say in the “sparklers” for Don Sparks!!!

  27. Happy Anniversary. Can not miss the fact that you are meant for each other.
    Have a wonderful Fourth of July.
    Rose

  28. Congrats and Best Wishes for many more happy years together. Also Happy Independence Day! My husband and I have a story too. Including the day we got married. We were married on Halloween 20 years ago. I know I make him crazy, but I’m pretty sure he would miss the craziness if it went away. The story is fun but too long to tell. I did enjoy hearing about your beginning. Bless you both. Ranee (MN)

    • I think every couple has a story and they are all wonderful. I’m always amazed how couples meet in this big world of ours.

  29. …aw, such a sweet story…and I absolutely LOVE that San Diego apartment building!

    • It was a neat building, with the original hand painted beams and period tile in the kitchen and the bathroom, a little shelf built in the wall for a phone and the front door had a tiny little door in it which you could open to see who was standing on the other side. I loved that apartment.

  30. I never get tired of hearing your story!! It always amazes me how people find each other.
    We celebrated 44 years on Don’s birthday (June 24). Time certainly does fly!!
    Happy 4th!! 🎉

  31. What a wonderful love story! Happy anniversary and Happy 4th! By the way, I was watching the TV show Elementary last night and who should appear as an attorney? Don himself!! I scared the cats to death as I yelled “It’s Don”.

  34. What a delightful story. You make me want to read all the versions so I can get even more details. We all love a sweet love story. Here’s to great kissing!

    Happy 4th!

  35. That was a lovely story. Real life can be magical sometimes and love is always involved. It brought tears to my eyes and capped off my fourth! Happy Anniversary!

  36. The story of you and Don meeting always makes me smile, and today’s “version” even more so! You always find a fun way of retelling it, and I never seem to tire of reading it. Happy Anniversary to both of you.

  37. Claudia – I didn’t get to this until this morning. Congratulations to you and Don. This year will also be my 22nd anniversary – 9/4/94 and I was 40 when we married – isn’t it wonderful to find your soul mate when you’d thought it would never happen?

  38. Congratulations to you and Don and Happy Anniversary! This year will also be mine and my husband’s 22nd anniversary. 10/22/94.

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