I Would Never Refer to Myself as a Trekkie/Trekker...

...I'm more of a sci-fi/fantasy omnivore really, but my father (who also technically would NEVER self-identify as a Trekkie/Trekker for his entire life) LOVED Star Trek. He turned into an 8-year old boy all his life when he watched it. Always a rapt expression of joy and wonder on his face as he watched the show, even the same episode for the umpteenth time. As much as he worked ( a lot), he made time on his day off each week to stay awake early in the wee hours of the morning and watch Star Trek. Now and again he might wake me to spend a little time with him and watch while mom snoozed next to us. I always loved to share that time with him. I remember asking him what about the show he enjoyed so much, though by that point I thought I knew.

Dad said that first of all, it was a Sci-Fi show (which next to films with Things-Blowing-Up-Spectacularly and Westerns created the third spoke in dad's trifecta of cool). It was a sci-fi show that often displayed humaniity showcasing many of our best ideals or qualities, celebrated our creativity and often showed us as eager, resourceful, enthusiastic and adventurous.

Peaceful exploration while expanding knowledge may have been a major goal as was contact with other cultures, but we were not so pacificistic that we wouldn't fight fiercely to defend ourselves. Not for bloodlust's sake but with intelligence, thoughtful consideration of consequences, cost and even perhaps an eventual truce/peace with the enemy. Well some of them anyway.

Star Trek showed a future where different cultures survived/thrived, celebrated their differences but remained united by the clear understanding that if you wore the uniform you were part of the team first. Among the humans in the uniform and of different cultures it seemed a common sense notion that we are human first and above all else.

Humanity in this future still isn't perfect even with the perseverence toward these noble ideals. There were episodes that featured us fighting with our worst traits either within ourselves or with others. Humanity imperfect yes, but evolving, growing and trying to learn.

And often Star Trek had hot chicks in really short skirts or less, which was never a negative for my dad...in fact I'd say he thought that was a necessity toward the inspiration for the future. Of course he didn't share that reason for loving the show with me until I was well into my adulthood.

In fact, when I was an underaged teen I tried to wear really short skirts for dates and pointed out to a frowning dad they did so on his beloved Star Trek. He'd retort something like, "It's future sci-fi fantasy young lady, this is your reality. Go put on some pants. Thick ones. With a large ugly belt. In fact, I don't care if it is summer - go get a sweater too..."

Sure, it's funny now...

Apparently this day in 1966 aired the first episode of Star Trek which love it or hate it begat a legacy that continues. Thank you to cast, crew, networks, writers and the Roddenberrys for giving the world such a lovely, progressive, hopeful dream that inspired so many others and especially my dad.

It inspired a secret joy and hope that lived in him which continues to live on in me.