A TOS fan...at 50....

[Warped9]

In a little more than a week and a half (Jan. 24th) I'll hit a personal milestone. I'll turn 50 years old.

.... What happened?

Previous birthdays that resonated?

21 (1980): In all respects that mattered I was officially an adult. But in all honesty I was an adult chronologically and legally, but I hadn't yet experienced enough to temper me into a genuinely and consistently mature person. In regards to Star Trek I was anticipating that finally there was more good stuff potentially on the horizon.

30 (1989): I finally had some seasoning to my character and felt I had a better handle on things, which was good because some rocky times were about to start for me. Trek was experiencing its own rocky times as the TOS based films were uneven and TNG was still in its early birthing pangs.

40 (1999): I was finally truly comfortable in my own skin and much more capable to deal with whatever life threw at me. I'd learned to put my shyness and awkwardness firmly and permanently behind me and feared very little. Trek wise...well Trek now officially sucked huge. And it would only get worse. The evidence had me firmly convinced that Trek's best days were far past. And the ensuing years would affirm that. From here on TOS would loom as a truly ambitious and signficant landmark work (flaws and all) that has never ben equaled in many respects.


Soon to be 50 (2009): I'm even more comfortable in my own skin and with few true regrets. But I also hunger for some good classic space adventure to enjoy. Sadly, good Star Trek is a fond memory occasionally revisted on DVD and I have no hopes for more of it for the future. In counterpoint I fervently hope that we will eventually get some other original space adventure to fire my enthusiasm and interest again.

And hopefully before I'm 60.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'll be hitting 50 on the 20th and hitting the theatre in May for the new trek film.

 

[Outpost4]

Happy birthday, Ray. I've said it before but it bears repeating. I wouldn't be here without the kindness and generousity of spirit of this man.

It took me until 55 to get back into reading sci-fi. I'd stopped for 15 years and only started again recently. I am also a much more patient person now. That took a major illness. I'm still learning.

And I, too, am looking forward to a really good sci-fi movie this summer. I feel positive towards ST:XI.

 

[Lord Garth]

Well, I feel a tad out of place now (I'm turning 30 this year not 50)... but happy 50th birthday! Here's to 50 more!

The TOS threads with your doctored pics that you used to do have been one of the highlights of the forum.

 

[sbk1234]

Happy birthday. As a 41 year old, it's nice to hear from someone who makes me feel young! Seriously, I appreciated reading how it took you some time to "get comfortable in your skin," which helps give me hope that I'll get comfortable in mine.

And yes, Trek has definately evolved - some might say DE-volved over the years.

 

[Australis]

HBD2U

Me, 50, October last year. You haven't caught me on one of my better days, but that's just stuff happening around me. If you keep fit and healthy, it's not that bad an age.

 

[T'Bonz]

I hit 50 last year. No big deal. It does seem very strange to be old. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were all watching TV with rabbit ears (In Living COLOR yet) and seeing shows like Star Trek, Bewitched, and such in first run or first syndication, not for the millionth time?

 

[TheLonelySquire]

In a little more than a week and a half (Jan. 24th) I'll hit a personal milestone. I'll turn 50 years old.

.... What happened?

Previous birthdays that resonated?

21 (1980): In all respects that mattered I was officially an adult. But in all honesty I was an adult chronologically and legally, but I hadn't yet experienced enough to temper me into a genuinely and consistently mature person. In regards to Star Trek I was anticipating that finally there was more good stuff potentially on the horizon.

30 (1989): I finally had some seasoning to my character and felt I had a better handle on things, which was good because some rocky times were about to start for me. Trek was experiencing its own rocky times as the TOS based films were uneven and TNG was still in its early birthing pangs.

40 (1999): I was finally truly comfortable in my own skin and much more capable to deal with whatever life threw at me. I'd learned to put my shyness and awkwardness firmly and permanently behind me and feared very little. Trek wise...well Trek now officially sucked huge. And it would only get worse. The evidence had me firmly convinced that Trek's best days were far past. And the ensuing years would affirm that. From here on TOS would loom as a truly ambitious and signficant landmark work (flaws and all) that has never ben equaled in many respects.


Soon to be 50 (2009): I'm even more comfortable in my own skin and with few true regrets. But I also hunger for some good classic space adventure to enjoy. Sadly, good Star Trek is a fond memory occasionally revisted on DVD and I have no hopes for more of it for the future. In counterpoint I fervently hope that we will eventually get some other original space adventure to fire my enthusiasm and interest again.

And hopefully before I'm 60.

Happy birthday next week and hopefully God blesses you with many more Trek filled years.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

I'll be 45 on the 28th. Hey Warped, you and David Gerrold share the same b-day. He is a bit older though.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Warped9]

The TOS threads with your doctored pics that you used to do have been one of the highlights of the forum.

I keep meaning to get back to doing more of those. And I'd like to add a wrinkle such as sound to some of the pics and sequences.

When I look at ClassicTrek (as I often think of TOS) I can see its age in terms of aesthetics and production limitations, but I don't feel it's old in terms of storytelling. I think much of it still works very well and much can still be learned from it. I can see how it continues to speak to new generations of viewers. In terms of overall writing, acting and concepts it has nothing to apologize for.

And at this stage I don't actually feel old, which I somewhat equate with feeling easily tired. At work for example I'm one of the oldest yet I'm likely the most off-the-wall in terms of humour and trying to see the fun and absurd side of things. I get all my work done and more while probably goofing around more than anyone else. Maybe working with a lot of folks half my age helps keep my perspective and interests somewhat fresh and helps to fuel my enthusiasms.

Indeed last week I was quite humbled. On Friday I went out for lunch with a younger coworker less than half my age. He asked whether my birthday was the next day which I replied no that it was in two weeks. He said, "Oh. Well anyway, Happy Birthday. Here, I can't wait." He then handed me a brown paper wrapped package. By Its size I judged it to be a trade sized book, possibly something to do with science fiction as it is something we often discuss together. Over the past two years I've shared my interest in SF and older films with him which he has found most interesting (he really liked the original The Day The Earth Stood Still on DVD as well as others).

Anyway, when I opened the package I found he'd given me a Canon SD1100 IS digital camera. I was stunned. I said, "I can't accept this. It's nice, but it's too much for a gift to a coworker especially since I know where you work and can guess how much you make." He answered that it was fine and that he wanted me to have it. He knew I didn't have one and that he really appreciated me answering questions and sharing with him whatever I knew about matters of history, politics, movies and SF and many other things.

I'm still a little floored.

 

[Warped9]

As a 41 year old, it's nice to hear from someone who makes me feel young! Seriously, I appreciated reading how it took you some time to "get comfortable in your skin," which helps give me hope that I'll get comfortable in mine.

Maturity is definitely a continuing process. Although we often don't recognize it as such but when we're young we're full of angst and anxiety over wanting things and not knowing how to get them, wanting to be liked yet not wanting to be a suck-up and trying to get a handle on our place in the scheme of things. If you happen to be somewhat shy and introverted then it can be a struggle to deal with those who might prey on you and develop the confidence and self-assurance to assert yourself. In those years learning to "be a man" involves a fair degree of acting and posturing until you find your own way and learn how to be the real you without facade.

And you can learn real compassion for others when you recognize them dealing with similar things you dealt with, and yet while you can offer advice and suggestions and understanding (if solicited) you also know that ultimately they have to work through it own their own to come out the other side in their own way.

Believe it or not some of those things became somewhat more clear through watching ClassicTrek in past years. It's also why I still have some fondness for "Charlie X" and can't honestly pan or dismiss it as many have.

 

[JKLand]

HBD!

I will be turning 42 in February.

 

[Warped9]

The TOS threads with your doctored pics that you used to do have been one of the highlights of the forum.

The real challenge here is that over the couple of years I did these I covered a lot of ground in terms of subject matter. I tried to conjure new versions of scenes we were already familiar with as well as "teewn events" of things that happened off camera and in historical terms.

I really wish there was more Cage era material to work with because I enjoyed speculating about that decade or so of Pike's command and what could have occurred then.

One image in particular I have in mind for the immediate future: Chris Pike accepting transfer of command from Commodore Robert April (as represented by Stephen Boyd of Ben Hur and Fantastic Voyage fame). Or even Kirk and crew being visited by April as the ship embarks upon its 5-year voyage.

The April idea also reminds me of how I enjoyed created live-action versions of TAS scenes.

I'm also reminded of how I tried to enhance the look of TOS by including/adding things that they couldn't afford (or do) during production as well as make the enhancements look as if they'd actually been done back in the day. I wanted the new images--particularly those of the Enterprise and other space shots--to look like state-of-the art '60s feature film production (such as 2001 and Planet Of The Apes) as opposed to obviously contemporary cgi. I wanted something of that feel of, "Wow! Man, if only they'd had the time and money."

For anyone not familiar with what we're referring to (and for those who wish to revisit) then go here: http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=30414&highlight=scenes

And things like this kill me.

The redshirt that wouldn't die.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'll be hitting 50 on the 20th and hitting the theatre in May for the new trek film.

I'll be 55 when the movie opens. Been a Trek fan since 1966. Can't wait.

 

[omnirad]

At 45 I still have faith that classic Star Trek adventures are a possibility. After all the ups and downs I'm still along for the ride.

Happy 50 to you. See you in one more 5 year mission. We'll see if I still believe.

 

[Warped9]

Over the past few years I've been accused of being narrow minded in not embracing anything new in Trek that's come along and being unfairly dismissive.

It's true enough that many of our likes and dislikes are basically established when we're younger. But not everyone remains rigid in their perspectives and tastes. As I've aged my tastes and perspectives have evolved to include some things I once dismissed and accepted new things that have arisen. I don't dismiss everything new that comes along just as I didn't accept everything I experienced when I was younger. You do develop selective tastes while still being willing to at least sample and consider something new even if you may or may not ultimately reject it. If so then you have nothing to apologize for.

And the same is applicable not only to Trek, but SF in general, music, television or whatever.

 

[Therin of Andor]

In a little more than a week and a half (Jan. 24th) I'll hit a personal milestone. I'll turn 50 years old.

Previous birthdays that resonated?

21 (1980)

I turned 50 a few weeks ago. On the night of my 21st birthday party a friend was telling us about his attendance that week at the gala Australian premiere night of ST: TMP, and I resolved to investigate the whole phenomenon.

And I can't wait till May!

 

[M'Sharak]

Boy, there sure are a lot of old people in here!

(Happy Birthday in 10 days or so. )

 

[Gecko of Gorn]

Boy, there sure are a lot of old people in here!

Get off my lawn!!

(Just clicked 39 not long ago)



All the best Warped9!

 

[doubleohfive]

Happy Birthday, Warped9. You've got about 20 years on me, but I've been re-watching TOS this month and have been absolutely amazed at how much I still enjoy it, even the bad episodes.

May your birthday be bright and full of smiles.