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 As the first blog entry got exhausted. My second book |
| Evolution of Love Part 2 |
| She had two black eyes, a broken nose, and zero interest in the movie star across the room — and that’s exactly why he fell in love with her. In 1975, a young actor named Jeff Bridges arrived in Paradise Valley, Montana, to film Rancho Deluxe. The cast was shooting at Chico Hot Springs, a rustic resort framed by mountains and endless sky. Jeff was already making a name for himself: Oscar-nominated, from acting royalty—his father Lloyd Bridges, his brother Beau Bridges. The world was opening up. But life-altering moments rarely come from the spotlight. During a scene with Sam Waterston and Harry Dean Stanton, Jeff noticed a young woman working nearby. He couldn’t tell if she was a waitress or maid, only that she was stunning—her face marked by two black eyes and a broken nose from a recent accident. She wore no makeup to hide them, wasn’t embarrassed, and carried herself with a quiet confidence that stopped him in his tracks. Years later, Jeff described being riveted by the contrast of her bruises and her beauty, by her honesty, by how real she seemed. When the scene wrapped, he finally asked her out. Her name: Susan Geston. She was 21, from Fargo, North Dakota, putting herself through college. She said no—not rudely, not dramatically—just that it was a small town and maybe they’d meet again. She had her own life, her own plans. She didn’t need to be impressed by a movie star. She already knew her worth. Jeff was stunned—and hooked. A few nights later, they ran into each other at a local bar and danced all night. Jeff later called it the moment he fell—completely and irreversibly in love. Their first official date was unconventional. Jeff had a meeting with a real estate agent to see a ranch and invited Susan. As they walked near the river, he thought: “You are now looking at a house with your future wife.” Terrifying as it was, he realized he was in over his head with love and commitment. It took two years before he finally proposed. Susan, unwavering, warned she wouldn’t wait forever. Jeff later said he was grateful he “finally got with the program,” because losing her was worse than any fear of commitment. On June 5, 1977, Jeff Bridges and Susan Geston married—he was 27, she 23. Together they built one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting marriages and raised three daughters: Isabelle, Jessica, and Hayley. Susan kept their family grounded while Jeff became a celebrated actor, starring in films like The Big Lebowski, Crazy Heart, and True Grit. She was also a producer in her own right. In 2010, Jeff won the Oscar for Best Actor. That night, 41 million viewers glimpsed their love story—Susan’s tears on camera as Jeff mentioned their “three beautiful tow-headed girls.” Their greatest test came in October 2020. Jeff was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a massive tumor in his stomach. Chemotherapy began, then COVID-19 struck. He spent five weeks hospitalized, fighting for his life. Susan, who had also contracted COVID, returned to his side immediately. When critical decisions arose, she instructed: “Save his life. No matter what you have to do.” Jeff credits his survival to her love—her unwavering presence. The same woman from Chico Hot Springs, with the broken nose and quiet strength, fought for him as she had lived her life: without hesitation, without performance, without needing approval. Today, Jeff’s cancer is in remission. They live in Santa Barbara with daughters and grandchildren. Married nearly 49 years, Jeff still carries a photo from the day they met, taken by a makeup artist on set. Susan Geston Bridges never sought the spotlight. She didn’t need it. She is the reason Jeff stayed grounded, married, alive, and in love. Her lesson is simple and profound: when you know your own value, you don’t have to audition for anyone’s love. Bruises and all, she stood in her truth—and attracted a love that lasted a lifetime. That is the kind of love worth waiting for. |
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