"Seducing Nature" - (c) Copyright by: iris - October 2003
Part 1, 2 of 4

On a wind blown pier, overlooking the calm, blue  Pacific, I cast my eyes to the far off horizon.

They said, "Today, could be the day." "They," being the ones who know these things and talk off them.

"A green flash?" I asked. "You know, you're the second person in two days who have asked me if I'd ever seen it. Before the first asking, I had never heard of it."

It is told that under just the right conditions, the phenomena of air, temperature and proper water conditions, at the very last glimmer of the sun sinking into the waters, a bright lime green flash, can be seen.

First things first. My name is Nature Walker. I know, yes, I've heard it a thousand times before as well as told the story behind it.

My parents were considered in their early days, to be the first of the hippies They were activist, members of Green Peace, and knew that their first and only daughter born, would be a nature's wild child after their own hearts.

I chuckle still, seeing the strange looks on the faces of the parents of my grade school friends as they tried to imagine how anyone could name their child, Nature.

I loved my parents even more for giving it to me.

I grew, quite nicely, into my name as I took to the earth's offerings with ease, delight and wonder. Be it in the Forrest, the ocean or the relentless, burning heat of the desert, I saw her beauty. Her wonder and often, her humor too.

I picked up my first camera at five. My mother, trying  between tears, to snap my picture at the door on my first day of kindergarten. I took it from her hands and took a picture of a baby bird, perched in it's nest adjacent to the walkway at school. I haven't put it down since.

My passion was drawn to capturing these precious moments offered, in film.   From high school electives to my part time job after school developing pictures in our local camera store, I lived for the moments, for just the right lighting, the right subject. Nine times out of ten it was the moon, the sun and anything else natural, wild and free.

I was fortunate after graduating from The Arts Institute, to secure the position of a lifetime from National Geographic. They saw my flare and ability in local exhibits I held throughout San Diego.

Twenty years later, I return.

"Excuse me Miss," he said tapping on my shoulder," would you happen to have a light?"

I had been standing at the pier end in Ocean Beach, lost in thoughts of which now, I can't recall, when he first introduced himself.

As I turned to look in the direction of the tap, he swayed in the opposite way in play; a sort of hide and seek.

"Ya can't catch a moving target," he said with a smile.

It was a killer smile which made my heart skip a beat.

"So, I guess you were only joking about needing that light," I answered back, holding my lighter in my hand.

"Fair enough, my name is Richard," he said extending and taking my hand. "I don't even smoke. I just thought it might be a unique and cleaver way to meet you without you realizing it was a pick up line. Not.

I'd love a light, thank you."

Cocking my head to the side as I often do when trying to determine if someone is telling the truth or not, I said, "Uh- huh," notice ing how warm and sensual my hand felt in his.

"And your name is...?" He asked.

"Nature. Nature Walker, it's nice to meet Richard." I said as I clumsily dropped the lighter from my hand.

"Gee, I'm not usually this feeble, I...I guess you just startled me." I said bending down to pick it up but before I could, he was down on one knee. Quickly, he scooped it up in one hand and presented it before me as if offering a rich and special gift.

"Milady," he said slightly bowing his head.

"Sir," I said in my most lady like voice, " is this a gentleman I see before me? They truly are such a rare breed, I know not for sure."

"Oh, but, milady,' he said while beginning to stand up, "not only a gentleman but, an officer as well." He said while snapping to attention in salute.

"Sergeant, Master Sergeant, ma'am." "To protect and defend and ... perhaps buy you a cup of hot coffee. We could watch the sun set together."

I believe that this was the first time I ever blushed while I laughed. If his intentions were to sweep me off my feet, he was succeeding.

The pier's cafe is a small, unassuming place set halfway down the long wooden boardwalk. It's a locals favorite place for Sunday morning breakfast and a great draw to the daily traveling tourist.

"How do you take your coffee, Richard?" I asked.

"Tina Turner style. That would be hot and black." We both laughed.

Each time I'm ever asked that question, I have to smile remembering.

We sat quietly, with our chairs facing west, as the fall's setting sun, sunk slowly beneath the line of the dark horizon. It's last hooray, framed in an almost, lavender sky, reflected off high clouds.

He turned to me a moment later and simply said, "Thank you." I smiled back understanding just what he meant in his appreciation. I felt it too. Sharing an event as a sunset is a warm and intimate feeling, when you allow yourself to be open to it.

Richard was a lifer in the Air Force. An officer and a natural born leader in all that he did. He was stationed at a Reserve Base a few hours north of San Diego but had made it down for the Annual Mira Mar, MCAS Air Show. Having once lived and loved in my fair city, he was revisiting old stomping grounds when are paths had crossed on the end of that pier.

Richard, was tall and lean with a beautifully chiseled face. His hair was dirty blond and cut short in a typical military style. His sweet, thin, lips were the most loveliest shade somewhere between rose and a pink Chablis. I had never considered men's lips in colors before but, his were striking.

As were his eyes. They were kind and soulful. Clean, green pools of liquid, as from the sea itself. His voice was soft, even in tone and very soothing. I felt a strong attraction from the moment he spoke and sensed a mellow intensity about his being. It was different and hard to put my finger on but, he definitely got my attention.

He talked with passion of his career and travels around the world. He was a great storyteller as he added a bit of adventure and humor to each episode he spoke of. His words flowed very naturally although I got the sense that each word was specially hand chosen.

Moments turned into hours, one cup of coffee lead to a few when finally I realized that the entire evening had slipped into early morning. I hated to break the spell but my work called for me in the early morning and proper rest was something that I was not accustomed to losing.

"Richard, I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this evening but, I'm afraid I must be going now. I don't know where the time went."

"No worries, Nature, allow me to at least walk you to your car," he replied back.

Richard, matched my steps in walking back down the pier until reaching my awaiting jeep.

"Poor girl, but you thought I had forgotten all about you," I said patting BAJ, on her side. BAJ is the name of my Bad Ass Jeep who has carried me on many a wild adventure. Mostly for my work.

"Nature," he asked, "do you have plans for tomorrow evening? I would be honored if you would accompany me to the twilight air show."

"Gee, well, I guess, you've caught me completely off guard but..." I stammered.

"I'd love to go," was my next response.

A very sincere, smile now spread across those handsome

lips and I couldn't help but smile back at him.

"Great," he stated.

"Yeah, really great," I cleverly answered back.

"Here, just write down your address and number and, how's six sound? We can share a little dinner before hand and have plenty of time to arrive before the show begins."

"Okay, Richard, six is perfect. I'll be looking forward to it," I said while writing down where I lived along with my cell number.

"Good, safe travels to you and again, thanks for a great time."

For whatever reason I felt moved, I placed my arms around him and gave him a big, warm hug before hopping up into my open-air jeep. He returned the hug with the same enthusiasm that it was given.

I drove off glancing into my rear view mirror to see him still standing in the same spot, watching me drive off. His fingers touching his lips and sending a kiss my way.

I let out the longest sigh I've ever held inside just feeling special from the past few hours spent. Suddenly, tomorrow evening couldn't come fast enough.

**************************************************
Dating was not foreign to me, just something I chose not to do much of. I had poured so much of my passion into my work, I was fulfilled there; on many levels. Relationships took time and effort and my work kept me constantly on the move for so many years. I never planted seeds, let alone roots to grow in one place.

Children, I experienced through my nieces and nephews whenever I had the chance but the grounding I found in myself was always from within. I never found that centering from another. It was a conscious choice and one that had served me well.

In meeting this charming and unique, new man, many feelings were stirred that I never had considered before.

As six o'clock quickly approached, I jumped in the shower to wash myself squeaky clean, relax and ruminate under the hot, steamy water. My long blond-streaked hair now bathed in scents of lavender and vanilla, I used my favorite body buffer to polish and stimulate the rest of my body.

I could hear Gabby, my cockatiel singing from his cage while I joined in singing a favorite old Rogers and Hart tune.

"Isn't it romantic, simply to be young on such a night  as this, isn't it romantic..."

My singing and daydreaming was abruptly cut short with  the ringing of my cell phone which I had placed on the vanity in the adjacent dressing room.

Grabbing a towel and jumping out of the shower, I caught it just before going to my voice mail. "Hello," I said, breathy from my sprint.

"Hey, Nature, Richard here. How are you?" Said the soft voice on the other end.

"Wet," was my best and most honest answer, "you caught me in the shower but, I'm well all the same. Thanks for asking, Richard and you?"

"Just wanting to let you know I'm running a little early and should be at your front door in about twenty minutes. Will that work?" he asked.

"Make it twenty-two minutes and you got a deal," I said as I walked back to the shower to turn the running water off I had left so quickly.

"Set your watch, five-fifty-two it will be. See ya." and the phone clicked.

"Shit. Now you've done it," I said to myself. "There goes those extra eight minutes for primping," I said now laughing at myself.

After towel drying my hair, I opted to pull it back into a high ponytail on top of my head for sake of saving time and, I liked the way it looked. Stepping into my favorite pair of 501 jeans, I slipped into my black, ten-hole, Dr. Martin hiking boots and finished my look off with a black cotton, scooped neck tee shirt.

While brushing my teeth with one hand, I grabbed my favorite, special fragrance of "Beautiful," with the other. I have this routine of carrying just a lingering scent by spraying and walking through the mist then spraying again, and backing through it a second time. Lot's of hand, eye, coordination needed for this one.

And into my quiet little neighbor hood, I heard the distinct roar of an oncoming Harley Davidson motorcycle. I stopped to listen. Yep, I could tell by the sound it was pulling up into my driveway and I could mentally see my neighbors now peering out their windows as they wondered who was being paid a visit.

Carefully I applied a coat of dusty pink lipstick, blotting once, then reapplying. By this time the bikes engine had been turned off and the gate to the complex was being opened.

Gabby, being a well-trained watch bird started his "someone's coming" chirping to alert me to an "incoming" visitor. I waited till I heard  the knock on the door and gave myself a quick once over in my mirrored, bedrooms doors.

Adding a smile was the last of my attention to detail that I made before heading for my front door.

"Welcome," I said now opening up the door to let my caller in. "It is so good to hear you, I mean see you, Richard," I giggled.

He took my hand and kissed my wrist.

"So, you heard me coming did you? You like to ride? If
it's a problem we could..."

"Oh, no you don't. Your not going to tease me with a Harley then change your mind. I've never ridden but always wanted to be a biker babe. Now I have my chance." I winked at him as he still held my hand firmly but softly. I held his as well with no indication that I would be letting it go anytime in the near future.

His eyes twinkled as I held his gaze, not blinking for fear that he might vanish in a *poof.*  "Want a quick tour before we go?" I asked.

"Sure, your place is really homey and quaint."

"I like it. It's small but small is good for me. Keeps things simple and easy to keep track of and care for. This," I said now indicating with my other hand, "is Gabby. Gabby, meet Richard," I said in making the introduction proper.

"Hey birdie, I guess you heard me too cause I sure could hear you from down on the street," Richard laughed.

"Now, Gabby, he is a rider so he does appreciate a nice one when he
hears it."

"First stop on our scheduled pre air show tour this evening will be the famous, wall of pride," I said now pointing to the picture covered wall behind him.

As he turned to look in the direction I pointed, he let go of my hand and walked to the dozens of pictures I had taken throughout North America. "Wow," he exclaimed, "these are yours, I mean, you took these?" he said in earnest.

"Yes, Sir, these would be mine," I proudly replied. "Some of my favorite locations that I've been fortunate to visit and work and when you work outdoors for the most part, you always have a great work environment."

On my wall in mostly black and white as was the way with Ansel Adams, I displayed sunsets in Monterey, sunrises from Death Valley, grizzly bears in the wild in Yellowstone and the great falls in Niagara.

"Hey lady, you sure have an eye for this stuff, great shots." He smiled and I could see the sincerity in his words.

"Thank you, but, it doesn't take a great deal of talent to capture the beauty that all these places show. Just a little luck and patience."

Glancing at his watch, he said, "We better get going, I don't want us to be late for dinner, you can show me the rest after the show if you don't mind, we have a reservation for dinner. Let's get out of here."

And with that, he took my hand and led me out the door as I grabbed my black leather jacket and bag.

*************************************************************************************
"Ever wear a helmet before?" he asked while unstrapping it from the sissy bar.

"Negative, Sir, Sergeant," I said contemplating just how I would strap it on. It was red and looked to cover one's entire head with a cute little plastic eye visor that seemed to slide up or down, depending upon one's preference.

"Have no fear, little lady," Richard said in his best John Wayne impression. "My Iron Maiden is especially tame to virgin rider maidens, such as you he said smiling, taking the shiny protective head gear from me and placing it firmly on my head.

As he manipulated the straps to snugly fit properly, I looked up directly into those piercing eyes that burned right into my own.

"There is a very, important rule though, before riding, now, Nature. Nature, are you listening?"

Apparently he could see that my full attention was caught within his gaze and I had only been partially listening to his words.  "Rule...important...listening, oh, sure I'm...what did you say?" I stammered.

He took a step back, placed his hands on his hips and cocked his head sideways with a silly grin.
 Next he took a small pair of fingerless, black leather riding gloves out of one of his bike's saddlebags and lay them atop my hands.

"No matter what, you always wear gloves when you ride, got it?"

"Got it." I smiled back through the clear, plastic visor. The helmet felt heavy on my head and through me a bit off balance.

He winked a flirty little wink and through his right, long leg over the bike. Once seated, he pat the seat behind me as a signal to get on and offered his hand in help.

I squealed like a child, in delight of the fun. I'd always wanted to ride one of these beautiful machines but for whatever reason the right opportunity had never presented itself. Until now, of course.

Once I was seated behind him, he pointed to the foot rest for me to place my feet on and took my hands that were now holding lightly to his waist for balance. He pulled them tightly around him till they nearly locked together and again, patted them before turning on the loud and sexy engine of the motorcycle.

I must have been doing chair jumping in my excitement for before riding off, he turned to me and said," just sit still, hold on tight and enjoy."

It was near impossible to hear from beneath the helmet or loud roar of his bike but I read his lips, which was not hard to do as I couldn't seem to keep my eyes off of them.

Now, slowly backing down my drive, he turned toward town, looking closely both ways, and zoooooooooooom. Off we went. After making the first right turn toward the freeway on ramp, while stopped at a light, he placed his hands on either sides of my legs and gently squeezed them to let me know he was there and watching over me.

I blushed in the feel of this and squeezed his waist even tighter between my arms and locked fingers to let him know I got his message

Chapter 2

How exhilarating," I thought to myself as we flew north, up the wide-open freeway.

The sky was clear and bright blue although I knew that sunset would be within the hour. The world flew by us in light speed and my heart raced in feeling as if I was a part of the bike and part of Richard too.

I knew the area well, but, wasn't the least bit clued into where he might be taking me until he headed west on highway 52. That's when I realize we were headed straight for Mt. Soledad.

Mt. Soledad is a spectacular coastal, hilltop landmark that is not nearly as well known as one might think. It rises from the sea, just above La Jolla Cove, a protected refuge for the local baby seals and on top, you have a three-hundred and sixty degree view of the entire city.

Beautiful coastal views to the North, west and south, and to the east, the valleys.

Although the road leading up to where a military  memorial sits along with a huge, white cross, was packed with cars, a bike can easily bypass the crowds, sneaking by effortlessly.

Some of the most beautiful homes of the city, dotted the roadside to this National Park, in winding, hairpin turns. The higher up the hill we climbed, the more excited I became.

As he made the final left turn into the parking area, I could see the crowds that had gathered to obviously get the best view of the soon to begin air show.

I hadn't been here in years and had forgotten just how special a place it really was. I had forgotten all about the dinner reservations he had mentioned until we rounded the corner of the lot and saw a table set on the grass with white linen table cloth, two chairs and what looked like a butler standing beside it.

Richard parked his bike in a spot, specifically made for bikes, and turned the engine off.

I raised the visor of my helmet and just waited to see what his next move would be. He placed his left hand behind his left shoulder, which was my sign to take hold and get off the bike. I did this with grace and did my best not to appear nervous, let alone, clumsy.

As he now dismounted his trusty steed, swinging his right leg over the seat, he removed his helmet first, then assisted me with mine.

"How was it?" he asked, un-strapping the chinstrap of my helmet.

My eyes must have been big as saucers and I couldn't wait to exclaim, "WHEEE, that was a blast!"

"Good, I had a feeling you would take nicely to riding, hey look, it looks as if there is one table remaining. Let's get some dinner before the show begins."

This man had made arrangements for a catering company to come set up a dining table, complete with China, crystal and sterling silver, along with a feast, meant for a kind and queen. The butler, Stanley, was just that and more. He was apparently included in part of the service and was there to wait on us, hand and foot. On the grass, overlooking the air base, with the perfect spot for viewing not only the soon to be displayed jets, but the sunset that hung just moments away now.

"Richard, oh, my goodness. I...I.. I can't believe, how thoughtful you are. Thank you just doesn't say enough."

"Good evening, sir, milady, so good to have you joining us just in time for the setting sun. Have a seat ma'am and I'll begin by pouring the wine." Stanley pulled out my chair and pushed it in behind me when I sat.

He first placed a linen napkin on my lap, then Richard's before taking his waiter's corkscrew and opening up a fine bottle of Merlot, my favorite.

"How did you know?" I asked.

"Just lucky, I guess," said Richard seeming to know exactly what to say and do to make one great impression after another.

Pouring a small amount into one of the crystal goblets, he offered it to Richard who first smelled, then tasted the deep, rich liquid before giving his nod for Stanley to pour us each a glass.

"To sunsets," he said now raising his glass to mine.

"To sunsets like this," I answered back, watching the last glimmer of sun, setting below the far, off blue horizon.

"Two in a row, wow," I said aloud.

We nibbled on crackers and cheese, grapes and cut melon. Each bite, each taste, blended and matched to compliment the next as well as the delicious Smokey tasting wine.

"Oh, look honey," said one passer by, " how sweet, how romantic. Why don't you ever do anything like that for us?" said the women pointing us out to her husband.

"Quiet, Gladys," said the man who appeared to now be embarrassed by his wife's outspoken remarks. "They can hear you, cut me a little slack, okay?"

Here we sat, on display for the entire world to see yet, the voices of the others around us appeared only as background noise and sights to one of the most romantic evenings I've ever spent.

We sipped lightly on our drinks while chatting away about each other's lives and interests. We laughed continually as the time soon arrived for the show to begin on the air base below us.

"I hope you don't mind staying here to watch the show", Richard said, now moving his chair next to mine and turning east toward the base.

"Have you ever seen the jets fly overhead from Soledad?"

"Oh, no but, I've always wanted to but, my timing was never quite right."

As he now placed his strong arm around my shoulder, we sat back, waiting for the show to begin.

The sky was filled with a thousand, twinkling  stars and my heart full and wishing
that time itself would simply just stand still.

Within seconds, the ground beneath us began to vibrate as the sounds of the jets below became
louder and louder.

The air was electrified and the current ran throughout my being.  A current of energy that seemed to run between the two of us and feed upon it's self in growing ever stronger.

Richard squeezed my arm as I placed my hand on top on his thigh and turned to see him looking at me, and smiling with his eyes.

To be continued