Live A Long And Healthy Life
I've had a lifelong fascination with science fiction since I was five years old. When I was a teenager, I liked watching the classic Star Trek reruns and the new spin-offs that aired late at night. Someone who had a profound impact on my life happened to be staying at a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, almost fifteen years ago. Having a drink at the hotel bar and an act of fate led me to discover a realm I had never imagined, the Star Trek universe. Aside from meeting famous people at conventions and becoming an official Trekkie, I also had the opportunity to do some satisfying charity work while living in this great universe.
When I went to set my purse on the bar to order my drink, I almost tripped over Terry Farrell. Actor Terry, a Star Trek spinoff star, and a promoter named Joe were at the bar together. All of us started discussing about the conference the following day, and I was invited by them to attend as their guest. People in Starfleet uniforms, Klingons, and even a few Ferengi greeted me the next day as I entered the massive ballroom. My buddies felt I was crazy for attending, but not me. I was having the time of my life at this point.
I noticed Terry was mobbed by ecstatic fans as I wandered about trying to decide which action figure to buy. Inquiring further, they revealed that other employees had failed to arrive for work. When I volunteered, they put me to work at the autograph table with Terry, and it was a pleasant experience. In line, many wept because they were getting to meet her, and she took her time with each one. Because of what happened afterward, working at other conventions gave me the opportunity to meet several other Trek actors and kick-started my transformation into a self-proclaimed Trekkie.
An enthusiastic Star Trek and science fiction fan is referred to as a "Trekkie" in the lexicon. Most people would think this is absurd, yet for some reason it felt familiar to me. While watching Star Trek on television, I had no idea that one day I would get to meet the show's cast members and become a member of the Trekkie community. Every year, a group of Trekkies in my neighborhood would get together to plan events and act out episodes from the program. A large number of people were clothed in black slacks with red, blue, or yellow shirts that had insignias to indicate their rank.
Charity work was among the privileges of becoming a member of this realm. As a result of my full-time profession, my weekends were often spent traveling to various organizations that our company supported. The Ron McNair Shuttle Program was the charity that had the greatest impact on me. The Challenger disaster claimed the life of Ron Garan, a former resident of my hometown. Children from the city's poorest neighborhoods and those with special needs were given the opportunity to participate in a real space shuttle flight. The children dressed up like astronauts and were given a role to play, such as mission specialist, pilot, or commander. Watching youngsters from various backgrounds come together to achieve a common goal was incredibly inspiring. At times, the feeling of accomplishment was almost too much to bear. As part of our work with local food banks, we also brought meals to folks who were unable to get out of their homes themselves.
Being a Trekkie has had a profound effect on my life. The experience has been one of the biggest joys of my life. No of my background, I was welcomed into Star Trek's world. Even though I'm no longer involved with conventions, I still keep in touch with a lot of the people I met back then. Just a couple of years ago, Terry sent me a package in the mail. Mr. Nimoy himself had signed the book and inscribed it with the following message: "To Merri," Live long and prosper! "
