Meeting Richard Gere
by:  Robin Spencer

It was July of 1997 and I was working as a manager at the Grand Plaza Hotel.  One of my desk clerks came flying into my office screaming, "You'll never guess who's coming here?!"  I asked if she would be pleased or if I would be pleased.  She said I would.  I told her, "Elvis is dead so if it isn't Richard Gere, go away".  She just grinned at me.  I told her to stop playing games, that it wasn't funny.  She said she had just taken a reservation for Richard Gere from his travel agent.  Well of course I had to check it out.  The first thing I did was call the travel agent number that they had listed on the reservation.  It was a REAL reservation. I then changed the reservation to a relatives name so that no-one else would get wind of this.  I thought he should have some privacy.  Then I told the desk clerk that it was a phony reservation so she wouldn't spread it all over town.  Then I prepared!  I was so nervous.  The next day the travel agent called me back to say she would like the reservation under his code name (sorry, I won't give that out).  Told her I had taken care of the privacy issue.  

On the day HE was to arrive we had a 1pm arrival time.  I was not due to be there until 10pm because I was training a new graveyard employee, but there was no way I was going to miss his arrival.  So at 12pm I was there.  At 1pm there was no Richard.  At 2pm there was no Richard.  At 3pm I was getting angry, thinking I had been had.  I called the private airstrip where they had supposedly landed.  Yes, they had arrived at 1pm.  They had been picked up by someone who was to sell them a horse.  So I waited.  Finally at 9pm He arrived.  I was at my desk and looking into the mirror every 2 seconds and there HE was.  He had on blue jeans, t_shirt and an open levi shirt with his pants tucked into his boots.  He had a baseball cap pulled low over his face.  I swallowed hard and rounded the corner to meet him.  "Can I help you, sir"  I asked.  "I have a reservation," he said.  That wonderful smirk from Pretty Woman is not an act!!  You could tell he was getting a kick out of me trying to be so professional.  I checked them in and then, because I'm the wonderful manager that I am, I offered to take them to their room.  I was pushing the cart with their luggage when he came running and slid into the cart with a few extra things.  He wouldn't let me touch the guitar.  Said he'd take that himself.  So Carrie and I and the luggage went up to the room while Richard parked the car.  I put his luggage away (his shoes in the closet, with my own two hands!) and visited with Carrie for a few minutes.  She really is a sweet lady and they are so cute together! Richard came in and I thought I would faint, so I left fairly quickly.  I made it to the elevator before losing control.  I could not believe that I had just met and talked to Richard Gere.  Well I'm leaning against the elevators clutching my heart and the door to HIS room opened.  I'm sure he was tickled by this little country girl who couldn't control herself, but he pretended not to notice (thank you Richard).  He wanted to know what there was to do in our town.  My mind went blank. He asked about movie theaters.  I live in the boonies in Idaho where everything closes early so I had to tell him no.  I then very graciously offered to loan him something from my personal video collection.  He smiled and leaned against the wall with me and asked what titles I had.  Well that was a stupid question!!!!  I proceeded to name every movie he had ever had even the tiniest part in.  He laughed so hard and asked what my favorite was.  I told him Pretty Woman. I'm a romantic at heart.  He said if I didn't tell anyone and brought the video in he would autograph it for me.  He shook my hand and thanked me and headed back to his room.  I could barely walk back to the front desk.  My mind was on anything but work that night.  What a night to have a new trainee.  She didn't learn much I'll tell you that.  Turns out she's also a fan so we got absolutely nothing done. 

Our shift was over at 6am.  I had talked to a local tour operator about giving them a free trip into Hells Cannon and it was okay, so I had the perfect reason to stick around.  I feel awful about this next part and am almost ashamed to admit it, but I called my brother to bring my tape and my camcorder so I could get him on film.  I know how private a person he is and was afraid he would say no, so I had my brother hide in the car and video from a distance (I apologize Richard, but it's my prized possession).  They didn't have time to do the river, but took several brochures, so maybe they will come back.  If they do, I'm in luck because I now work for that company!!!

I walked out to the car with them and Richard said he would sign my video.  I couldn't find a pen so he dug through my purse to find one!!!  He signed my Pretty Woman tape (which is now in plastic) and they said goodbye. I visited with Carrie while he loaded the rig.  I'd say they are perfect for each other. 

Never have I had a more wonderful 24 hours in my life.  Richard, if you ever peak at these pages, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my dream come true.