Remembering Leonard Nimoy

So with the passing Leonard Nimoy recently… I’ve been figuring out what to say about the man. In fact I’ve been at a loss for a few days now on what to say. While I never knew Nimoy personally. The man was a big part of my family….
A lot of this started with my Grandfather and my Father. My Grandfather who was working Forrest Service & the local Fire Department at the time. Was over seeing the staging areas at Franklin Reservoir above Los Angeles for one of the Star Trek episode on season 3 called The Paradise Syndrome in 1968. The plot out line starts as follows: “On stardate 4842.6, the Federation starship USS Enterprise arrives at an earth-like planet in anticipation of deflecting an asteroid headed for it. With some time to spare, Captain James T. Kirk, First Officer Spock and Chief Medical Officer Dr. McCoy transport to the surface for a brief survey. They find a obelisk with strange markings as well as a humanoid species whose customs seem to follow those of various North American Native tribes. Returning to the obelisk, Kirk starts to communicate with the Enterprise but his actions open a trap door within the obelisk which Kirk falls into. Spock and McCoy are unable to open the door, and forced to return to the Enterprise to oversee the asteroid deflection.”

Also this lake was featured in hundreds of westerns and police shows, but is most famous as the fishing hole in the opening credits for The Andy Griffith Show. It was here my Grandfather took my Dad (who was a teenager then) to meet the cast and crew, as well watch some of the episode as it was being filmed. My Dad got meet & get autographs from William Shatner, DeForest Kelley and Mister Leonard Nimoy…. Also had a number taken with them and the stage. Now me as a child, my Dad got me into scifi and comics. He then showed me Star Trek….. From there is become a almost a ritual for us to watch Star Trek and we had our favorite movies as well. Most notably Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) , all tho Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) was up there as well. My two favorite characters was Spock and Bones(Dr. McCoy) growing up and they still are. Between me and my Father we always quote lines from the show and or movies from Spock or Bones.
It wasn’t till later my Father gave me his pictures and autographs that he got from The Paradise Syndrome episode. I wanted to keep them save and not have them hanging up on the wall or where ever. So I put them in with the rest of the autographs I had. Sadly William Shatner, DeForest Kelley and Mister Leonard Nimoy went missing for a time. I ripped apart my house trying to find them. Because they were no longer in the file cabinet with the other autographs. I did find DeForest Kelley and made a picture to go with the autograph . Then framed it and hung it up on the wall. I did find the second “autograph” from Leonard Nimoy, that says “Greetings Spock”…. Sadly I have yet to find Leonard Nimoy & William Shatner real autographs.. I believe they were taken from me by one of the babysitters I had in the past.

So being rather sad about this and feeling horrible about losing my Father’s autographs. I thought I try and get William Shatner & Leonard Nimoy again and show them the picture that my Dad took back in 1968 and share this story with them. Sadly I don’t think will happen now with the passing with Leonard Nimoy. I mean it could still happen with William Shatner and I hope it does! But I really wanted to tell them what this show meant to my family. Well it was more of a Father/Son bonding time story really. How it’s been going on for 4 generations now, starting with my Grandfather, my Father, myself and now my Son. My Son loves Spock… To my Son Spock is Star Trek. I haven’t had the heart to tell him that he passed way.. I don’t think I will, at least till he becomes much older.
I think it’s better to keep remembering Leonard Nimoy/Spock and everything he has done. Doctor McMCoy once said in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,”He’s not really dead. As long as we remember him.” This is true…