An Affair to Remember

This is a story...a tragic tale about a dear friend of mine and her journey through the dark-side of love.

Her name is Jacqueline* ....

Jacqueline (who was often mistaken for rocker Marianne Faithful) met 'Steve' when they were both young & lacking of worldly knowledge, and wisdom; sexual and otherwise.

Steve was a product of urban Indiana and Jacqueline from a world away, swinging London, England. Steve was studying acting and had just landed a stage role preforming at the Old Vic Theater. They met on Carnaby Street on a lazy Saturday morning. She was drawn to his peering blue eyes and he to her long blond hair and equally long legs. Steve was once quoted ' I love a good pair of stems, and Jacqueline has all that and, well let's just say a lot more".

Not hard to understand the strong draw that Steve had on Jackie. This son of a Flying Circus stunt pilot was rough around the edges, in a brut sort of manor. He was moody, and pouty; all the things a young impressionable girl was challenged to 'fix' and made him all that more irresistible. That grin could melt this nubile girl right down to her knees.

Jackie and Steve enjoyed the London life. Steve was slowly becoming a celebrity and

he and Jackie were dressing and living their parts. The money was flowing in and so were the invites to all the chicest parties and events.

Steve's love for Jackie flourished. Her fabulous wit, smashing good looks and her devotion to him sealed the deal.

They had a passion for each other that paralleled that of Taylor and Burton, Simpson and King Edward VIII, & Spencer and Heidi.

Jackie would write me letters telling the tales of Steve's sexual prowess. They would make love in the most scandalous of places just to add to the excitement.

He even bought her an Austin Mini to see if they could conquer lovemaking in such a confined space while driving the streets of London.

Poor Jacqueline, she was not yet fully aware of why he was buying her this car. I look at this photo now & think, "you are in for one helluva ride my dear".

Steve tried his hardest at living the domestic life, even bringing home a shelter cat for Jackie.

She named him "Cool".

Late that year, their love-child was born. Steve loved their baby but slowly he started to feel the squeeze of "normalcy". The routine of every day life was tearing at his rustic soul.

He would take off to Palm Springs for extended periods of time to get away. All the while telling Jackie that he had taken a movie part in California. Soon enough he purchased a house there.

He was a man who craved solitude & freedom. even from bathing suits (or bathing 'costumes' as Jackie would write).

When he returned home to England Jackie wrote, "he'd come to bed with a pistol, I just thought he was happy to see me." Their affair became one tumultuous tryst after another.

When home in England he acted more and more mysterious; often disappearing for hours.

Besides his love for race car driving, he possessed a penchant for motorcycles, often favoring those British built bikes by Triumph. That's when I first met Steve. I had been a boarding school chum of Jacqueline's and I had landed a job with Triumph as one of their engineers. I delivered Steve his first custom 650cc 'Bonneville'.

But before too long Steve would leave Jacqueline behind., no longer riding the roads as a pair. She was crushed with agony and despair as to how to fix their strained relationship.

He spent every chance he could riding in his Ferrari. He started to love his cars and bikes more than time with his family.

Oh sure, he'd attempt to call when he'd remember to tote his man bag.

but more and more he was living the life of a reclusive star.

So Jacqueline went about life without him. She always would tell me, "It's better to be with no one at all, than the someone that does not love you back as you deserve." She was always wise beyond her tender years.

While filming the movie, "Love with the Proper Stranger", rumors started flying around the set and all of Hollywood that he was having a lurid affair with Natalie Wood. She at that time was married herself, to a hunk of a man, actor Robert Wagner.

Sadly Steve didn't stop there; he began a long reputation for shagging every dark haired co-star he could could lure.

After Natalie he was on to Ali Mc Graw.

Then he was on to more dark haired women, this time in Maserati's. Always dark-haired women to help him forget what he was missing with his long-time love and fair-haired Jacqueline.

While Steve was cavorting around Hollywood, Jackie began her own affair. 'Mick' was wildly talked about for his charisma and antics on the stage as well as off.

She didn't seem to care who saw them together, it no longer mattered. Where Steve was good in some areas of love making, Mick had his own weapon for passion, those bulbous lips with a zip code all of their own.

Hurt and jealous, Steve started to wash away his memories of his life in London with Jackie. I use to think, "ya, sure, laugh it off Mc Queen".

He was by then labeled the "King of Cool" by his fans. But inside, he was in turmoil. Wracked by guilt for leaving behind the good he had with his British babe.

He began a downhill spiral. Often flipping-off fans, and on-lookers; at the track & off.

All the ups & downs of their now non-relationship bored Jackie to tears. She had moved on with hip Mick.

Steve tried hard to pull himself together. Once again looking the part of a real movie star.

He chose to go back into seclusion,

and put his miserable life back together without her.

after that you would often see him tearing up the streets in anger. Desperately trying to forget those romantic times in that Austin Mini with his Jackie; non-replaceable Jacqueline.

Jacqueline resides in rural Hertfordshire, outside London. She is living in harmony with her beloved husband (who prefers his identity to be private) in their gorgeous, romantic home.

February 1st is my Jackie dear's birthday and I'm here to wish her a day only memories are made of; even if they are a wee bit sordid; all the better!

**Jacqueline writes one of the most unique and delightful blogs, called HOME. Her way with photos and words capture more comments in a day than most in a week. I know you've all heard of it, but just in case it's slipped between your digits, find it here.
Story is obviously fictional, it was in jest as Jacqueline loves Mr. McQueen & after all, it is her birthday!

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Chad McQueen - Steve's son with the original Mustang "Bullitt" from Steve's 1968 film (in the rear) and with the limited-edition new version with that same name.

Dunbwit with her husbands 2001 Bullitt in that original 'Highland Green',

and with her Triumph 900cc America.

and @ Mc Queen's home in Palm Springs located within the famous 'Movie Colony'. The Realtor told us that Steve adored Mickey Mouse & had his pool built in Mickey's profile. I was so tempted to dive right in hopes of soaking up as much long-lost Steve as possible.

{go forth & live responsibly}
celebrate your friends

photo & research credits; Jose Lasheras; Polly Wreford, Joanna Henderson, Sarahkayepresents.com; aworldtowin.net; bradbarnett.net; thefader.com; fanpop.com; listal.com; lifemagazine.com; sundaymercury.net; artnet.com; michaelmanning.tv; gettyimages.com; wallpapergate.com; autotrend.com; tripod.com; blogdig.net; vintageculture.net; cracked.com; boson.com; sixtiescinema.com; bradfordid.com; absoluteastronomy.com; yuddy.com; pacific-standard.blogspot.com; listal.com; sealinnean.blogspot.com; loti.com; picapp.com; panachereport.com