Leonard Nimoy Dies At Age 83

“I think it’s my adventure, my trip, my journey, and I guess my attitude is, let the chips fall where they may.”~ Leonard Nimoy

Today will be living in infamy for millions and millions of people of this generation. They will remember this day.

Leonard Nimoy, the actor best known for the popular Star Trek series character “Mr. Spock” has passed away today in Bel Air, California at the age of 83.

The Internet was buzzing about his health concerns over the past several days as he was experiencing chest pains. Today the world lost him.

I cannot say personally that I grew up watching the TV series, but since it has been in syndicated re-runs for like, forever… so to speak — I have seen numerous episodes. To which I had taken a liking to Mr. Spock’s character. The simple idea of a being who has no emotions/feelings was fascinating to my boyhood mind. However my elder brother was a super fan of the TV series. He would remember a lot more of it than I would. And I can just imagine how he felt when he heard the news. I sent him a text message, but he already knew.

Maggie Thrett as “Ruth Bonaventure” in Star Trek’s ‘Mudd’s Women’ (1966)

Star Trek would spawn other televisions series and programs. Not to mention the ongoing lists of films. And they are still being made today. However deep down, no matter who you are, how old you are, or what generation of Star Trek you grew up in or with… everyone knows that Leonard Nimoy is, was, and always will be Mr. Spock.

My first real memory of watching the original Star Trek series was my parents purchasing a VHS tape of the Star Trek episode “Mudd’s Women.” At the time this had happened, I was already in advanced stages of recognizing and discovering what a “female” was.

The character of Ruth Bonaventure played by Maggie Thrett. Being that it was a VHS tape, I could rewind certain parts in which she appeared and fast forwarded through the parts of the episode in which she did not appear.

Ahh, the coming of age and pubescence.

It was the only episode of the original series that I bothered paying attention to.

Hello, puberty!

I remember watching “Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan” on what was then “The Movie Channel” which was pretty much just that at the time. They didn’t fool around with breaks or coming attractions. When one film ended, another began.

I will always remember those awkward moments of William Shatner as Captain Kirk in that film, the nasty ear worm, and the death of Mr. Spock due to radiation poisoning. I wondered how it could have killed a Vulcan? A human being, yeah sure.. but a Vulcan? Oh well.

Spock says, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” And then Captain Kirk finishes with, “or the one.”

And of course Khan Noonien Singh, played by famed actor Ricardo Montalbán. Khan’s famous and infamous moment of dramatic dialogue when he says, “He tasks me. He tasks me, and I shall have him. I’ll chase him round the Moons of Nibia and round the Antares Maelstrom and round Perdition’s flames before I give him up!”(Did you know that the line was loosely based and loosely quoted from the book Moby Dick ? And a worthy footnote: actress Kirstie Alley was in this film as well, I believe another Vulcan? Someone will have to research that for me. But she’s in it.)

So other than “Mudd’s Women” and Star Trek II… I honestly didn’t know too much about Nimoy’s acting career with the exception of the aforementioned and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), but he was notoriously famous for his role as Mr. Spock.

Often times I get tripped up and call him Dr. Spock. Others do too. But it is Mister, not Doctor.

I have seen a TON of emotions in outpouring mode this day! From just about everyone I know on social media and others around me in my generation and the elder generation. Everyone has had a response. Most of them shocked and saddened and frustrated and overall surprised. Many in denial and not wanting to accept the fact that Leonard Nimoy is gone. I’ve personally not seen such a reaction from a collective whole over a celebrity death … since Robin Williams.

People that I would have never thought would have an opinion over Mr. Spock or Star Trek in general showing the most emotional responses.

So we salute this man who obviously has had some kind of impact on all of our lives. Most of us shall say to his memory the famous Spock line of “Live long and prosper.” as we mourn.

Farewell, Leonard Nimoy. Rest thee in peace.

My Future Fifth Ex-Wife

I usually give in to the requests of others when I know that people have been reading this blog and they tell me, “You should blog about that.” 

It was suggested that I write about this.

It’s humiliating to think of and yet today it is so funny!!

A few years ago, I got exceptionally lucky that I would find myself within the company of two Hollywood actors, Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey.

I had something fierce for Sandra Bullock and decided that she would be my future wife. Because the other four women before her either got married or did something to turn me away.

But there she was.

The two of them were minding their own business and I went up to them and started to speak. The conversation was held mostly with Matthew. Sandra didn’t say a whole lot. Something that I hadn’t noticed until much later after this experience happened.

Anyways, when I saw that the conversation was about to come to an end, I kinda went into fan shock.

I had a notebook with me. At the time I was attempting to write a screenplay. And I looked over and I asked if I could have an autograph.

Yet this would pose as a big problem as I was not specific. My intention was for Sandra’s autograph. Not Matthew. But I did not make myself clear. Matthew McConaughey was more than happy to oblige. And when I saw that I had made the mistake by not being specific enough, the following words came falling out of my mouth:

NO! NO! NOT YOURS!! I MEANT HER, I WANT HER AUTOGRAPH!!!

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. As I think about it now in 2012.

At the time I kind of thought that Matthew may have been an actor or he may have been famous or whatever. I had seen him in the film EdTV, but that’s all I knew of his acting career. And I wasn’t even 100% sure that it was him. But I surely knew Sandra and all of her acting roles. Hell, I had nearly all of them on video and DVD.

They both kind of looked at me in disbelief coupled with annoyance.

Matthew handed over the notebook to Sandra. She had noticed there was nothing to write with. I hadn’t given them anything to write an autograph. And I sat there fumbling around trying to find my pen. I would later realize that I had lost it along the way just shortly before I decided to go over to see them.

Matthew had one, which I thought was to my favor. Sandra scribbled something and then gave back the notebook.

As Matthew attempted to return the book to me, I had realized that what I had  said and done was very rude. And I was grasping at straws to redeem myself from the stupid behavior that I had exhibited.

I asked for Matthew’s autograph.

This plan to redeem myself had failed miserably that it could have gone down in history as the worst attempt at a comeback ever.

After numerous times of being asked if I was sure, I insisted that I was.

So then he signed the following message on another page:

“Thanks for being a giant asshole.  MM.” 

Yeah, I totally deserved that one.

By the time I had looked up from reading what both of them had written, they were gone. Looking back at it now, I can’t say that I blame them.

Any fantasies or dreams of having Sandra Bullock being the future Mrs. Dambreaker ….. were gone. I had blown it big time!!

But I learned that I should always watch what I say around people. Even if I am star struck by them. After all, Hollywood celebrities are people too. They have feelings and emotions.

I would later run into other famous people and such, but I had learned what NOT to say and what NOT to do. 

I still follow Sandra’s career. I am more aware of Matthew’s acting career as well now. And I do like them both. But I’m forever haunted by my own slip-of-the-tongue so many years ago that no matter how far or fast that I run, its always going to be there. I can’t undo the past. But I can surely live and learn from it.