Leonard Nimoy, Spocktoberfest, and middle school
One of my lifelong heroes died last week, and although I rarely get caught up in celebrity happenings, Leonard Nimoy's passing has made me pause and remember how his character, Spock, and Star Trek has shaped me.
In fact, when I think about it, Star Trek has been part of my consciousness for my entire life. I'm just old enough to remember watching the original airing of Arena in 1969, the episode with the green reptilian alien pitted in a life-and-death battle against Kirk on a distant planet. The thrilling terror of that slithery voice emanating from the green rubber suit was more than enough to capture my imagination for my entire life.
Star Trek was my secret obsession all through high school, until I went to university and met an entire generation of people, Trekkers, just like me. I loved The Next Generation , and wrote two scripts for that series, both rejected, and also created a slightly naughty song for Mr. Worf, called Klingon Love Affair which was hilarious. I still play and sing it at parties with old friends, now and then ...
As recently as two weeks ago, I watched the new J.J. Abrams ST movie, Into Darkness , which was thrilling. Zachary Quinto makes a great Spock, and his moment on screen with Leonard Nimoy was a wonderful hall of mirrors, looking into the future, into the past, into the future and so on. Due to the magic of Netflix, my 17-year-old son is methodically watching the entire Star Trek franchise. It's good to walk into the basement (where his bedroom is), with an armload of laundry and hear Patrick Stewart's silky voice arguing with Q.
So glad that a new generation has picked up the Star Trek gauntlet, may it prosper and inspire young people for years to come. I suspect it will.
For a longer essay on Star Trek , Leonard Nimoy, Spocktoberfest and how I
survived middle school, here's my other blog post: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/02/...
Truly, LLAP.
In fact, when I think about it, Star Trek has been part of my consciousness for my entire life. I'm just old enough to remember watching the original airing of Arena in 1969, the episode with the green reptilian alien pitted in a life-and-death battle against Kirk on a distant planet. The thrilling terror of that slithery voice emanating from the green rubber suit was more than enough to capture my imagination for my entire life.
Star Trek was my secret obsession all through high school, until I went to university and met an entire generation of people, Trekkers, just like me. I loved The Next Generation , and wrote two scripts for that series, both rejected, and also created a slightly naughty song for Mr. Worf, called Klingon Love Affair which was hilarious. I still play and sing it at parties with old friends, now and then ...
As recently as two weeks ago, I watched the new J.J. Abrams ST movie, Into Darkness , which was thrilling. Zachary Quinto makes a great Spock, and his moment on screen with Leonard Nimoy was a wonderful hall of mirrors, looking into the future, into the past, into the future and so on. Due to the magic of Netflix, my 17-year-old son is methodically watching the entire Star Trek franchise. It's good to walk into the basement (where his bedroom is), with an armload of laundry and hear Patrick Stewart's silky voice arguing with Q.
So glad that a new generation has picked up the Star Trek gauntlet, may it prosper and inspire young people for years to come. I suspect it will.
For a longer essay on Star Trek , Leonard Nimoy, Spocktoberfest and how I
survived middle school, here's my other blog post: http://phdowding.blogspot.ca/2015/02/...
Truly, LLAP.
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