Bo Derek autograph - by Scott Mann

Last weekend my girlfriend Kathy wanted to get away for several days. We could celebrate my birthday and visit her cousin in San Francisco. As we drove through Pismo Beach I called our friend and left a message saying sorry we missed her. Amy was a Narbonne grad about 27 our junior. She's now a wine sales rep that transferred to Pismo several years ago. Amy replied (Facebook, what else?) saying she was sorry she missed us but possibly we could hook up on our return trip. On the way back we asked if she was available for lunch. She was making sales calls so we made plans to meet at the Los Olivos Cafe. Amy mentioned Los Olivos was now Bo Derek's home town.

Over lunch I told Kathy and Amy that Bo went to Narbonne in 1973. My x-wife knew her from tennis class. I seem to remember her first name was Mary but she went by Cathleen Collins. Cathleen had mentioned her mother was Ann Margret's hair dresser, among others. In show business they work long hours and Cathleen often accompanied her mother to work on weekends. When John Derek discovered Cathleen, he put opportunities ahead of her and Narbonne behind her.

As I'm finishing my story this blonde lady with big sunglasses walks by our outside table. Finished shopping at the Los Olivos retail wine store she turned to get into the black Mercedes SUV at the curb. There was no mistake she was the 1973 Gaucho, looking fabulous in her 50's. She took some time before she started her car and this is the part where I kick myself. I had plenty of time to walk over and talk to the lady that I'd heard was very friendly. I'm now making it a goal to get an autographed photo, to her fellow Narbonne alumni. I'm sure you will find a place to display it on the NHS site. We may get her permission to post an old photo from a 1972 or 73 El Eco, but let's keep that between us, just in case she doesn't agree... Good night Mary Ellen