Paul Newman was one of the first men of whom I took notice. He was
everywhere during that time between
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and
The Sting. Little prepubescent Gina was completely infatuated.
I was far too young to actually see those movies, but I certainly was aware of them - and their handsome stars! Several years later my friend Elaine and I watched
Cool Hand Luke on TV one afternoon. We drooled over Paul like a couple, well, teenagers.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...it was the sparkle in his eye that did me in!
I've always been attracted to a man's eyes. To me, nothing else matters if I look into his eyes and there's
nobody home... I remember my mom's advice to me every year on picture day, "Remember...smile with your eyes." Well, I never mastered that skill, but Paul did, seemingly without even trying.
I think most people go through an evolution of the things that attract us to the opposite sex. We eventually grow up and our icons become a dim - and often disappointing - memory most of the time...
But not Paul! He just seemed to get more appealing with each passing year.
The thing I admire most about Paul is the fullness to which he lived his life. He handled the enormous influence his fame granted him with gracious aplomb. He generously gave of himself to make the world a better place. His public admiration of his wife was touchingly romantic. To say he was beloved by -
everyone - would not be an understatement. He embraced life and all it offered with great verve. That is why he has continued to hold my attention and even to inspire me long past my "movie idol" years.
All those admirable elements of Paul are even more attractive than those piercing baby blues. I guess I'm just a sucker for a passionate man! I mourn the loss of that brand of passion from our world.
My way of dealing with this kind of loss is to try to glean the lesson to be learned from the tragedy. So I choose to pay tribute to Paul's legacy with my own actions. In recognition and appreciation for the great Mr Newman, I promise to give generously of what I have to offer, live my life to its fullest and inspire others to do likewise.
Then hopefully through my eyes, Paul will live on.
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