Paul Newman

Paul 
Newman

Only women of a certain era will fully appreciate 
this story.  (if you don't understand this, tell your 
mother, she'll get it)

A Michigan woman and her family were vacationing 
in a small New England town 
where Paul Newman and his family often visited. 

One Sunday 
morning, the woman got up early to take a long walk.  After a 
brisk five-mile hike, she decided to treat herself to a double-dip 
chocolate ice cream cone.

She hopped in the car, drove to the 
center of the village and went straight to the combination 
bakery/ice cream parlor. 

There was only one other patron in 
the store:
Paul Newman, sitting at the counter having a doughnut 
and coffee.
The w oman's heart skipped a  beat as her 
eyes made contact with those famous baby-blue eyes. 

The 
actor nodded graciously and the star struck woman smiled 
demurely.

Pull yourself together!  She chides 
herself.  You're a happily married woman with three children, 
you're forty-five years old, not a teenager! 

The clerk 
filled her order and she took the double-dip chocolate ice cream 
cone in one hand and her change in the other. Then she went out the 
door, avoiding even a glance in Paul Newman's direction.

When 
she reached her car, she realized that she had a handful of change 
but her other hand was empty. 
Where's my ice cream cone? 
Did I! L! eave it in the store? Back into the shop she went, expecting 
to see the cone still in the clerk's hand or in a holder on the 
counter or something.  No ice  cream cone was in sight.. 


With that, she happened to look over at Paul Newman.
His 
face broke into his familiar, 
warm, 
friendly grin and he said to the 
woman,
 
 
 
 
 
'You 
put it in your 
purse.'  

It was my great pleasure to date a man who looked like a double for Paul Newman.  I was on cloud nice when I was with him and felt the daggers of envy of other women.  However, he taught me that with such great gifts, there is usually a dark side.  In the case of Paul Newman, he was truely a great person and a wonderful model in many ways.  However, he struggled for many years with severe depression and alcohol dependency....so it points out that no matter what our gifts are there remain many struggles that have to be over come.  In his case, he did not take his addiction seriously until the death of his son in a drug related accident.

  Oh, my guy.  He never would work.  He never "found the career he was meant for."  Thankfully, his mother left with him with enough money that if he is careful, it will not be a problem for him.  We broke up many years ago.  I have not seen him since.

Many years ago I had the pleasure and I do say it was a pleasure, of meeting both Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward.  Her father, at one time was a principal at a school here in Blakely.  She would, at times, come through to visit where they lived.

I was in a local bookstore when they came in.    They walked around looking through the older books and came to the back where I was plundering through the mystery section.  She looked up and I spoke to them.  They both spoke and were very nice.  She had a very puzzled look on her face when suddenly she smiled and told me who my mother was.  She said I looked just like her which at times I do.  To have lived here such a short time at a very young age and to have remembered my mother who actually was a very SHY person is amazing.  Mama would be thrilled to know that she was remembered by such a well known personality.

Boy did I chase rabbits on this one didn't I

I understand that Joanne is a very down to earth person, and very gracious.  This story confirms the things that I have read about her. 

I think they both struggled to maintain as "normal" of a life as their fame would allow.   Thank you for a delightful story.

Have a Wonderful BLESSED weekend Miss Mary!!