Is there someone who has touched your life – changed your life – inspired you – facilitated an epiphany, an “aha moment” that altered your course – your personal evolution? For some that person might be a parent, a friend, an activist, an author, a spiritual leader, a musician, a painter…. but a fictional character?

While you come to this blog to read about food and wine, today I ask for your indulgence as I devote this space on the world wide web…and indeed a space in my heart…and soul, to “Mr. Spock” and the actor that brought him to life – Mr. Leonard Nimoy. How ironic that a character so purposely void of emotions could evoke such a wide array of emotions in me today in learning of his passing and in the many years that I have spent remembering and putting to practice Mr. Spock’s logic and ideology.

Even at a young age, Mr. Spock’s logic and view of the world…or in his case, the universe, resonated with me. It just made sense. Objectivity, intelligence, focus and clarity. The emotions of love, respect, trust and fear were all there, just kept in check so the job at hand could be accomplished. Well, perhaps I was never going to be a “Number 1” on an intergalactic airship, but I would have many opportunities in my life where those attributes would provide me with the foundation necessary for the situation at hand.

Juxtaposed against the logic, there seemed to be a spiritual component subtly implied in the character of Mr. Spock. Indeed, Mr. Nimoy explained that even the iconic split finger hand gesture, generally accompanied by the words, “Live Long and Prosper”, was derived from a gesture made by practitioners in a synagogue he witnessed as a youth. In later years, Mr. Nimoy would write many books of poetry, illustrated with his own photographs. As a poet and photographer in my teens, again, my connection with the passion, introspect and the emotion of his written word, ran deep.

Having lived in Hollywood my whole life, movie star sightings are pretty common place. But only once, have I actually wanted  to verbally connect with one of those stars. I had gone to see a musical performance at the Hollywood Bowl that was being narrated by Mr. Nimoy. When his portion of the show was finished, I darted to the backstage artists’ entrance to hopefully see him and let him know how deeply his artistic endeavors had touched me over the years. But as fate would have it, he had left quickly and I had missed him. Today, it saddens me that he shall never know.

So today, I will raise a glass to toast a mentor and thank him for sharing and for the many lessons well taught.

Is there someone who has touched your life – changed your life – inspired you – facilitated an epiphany, an “aha moment” that altered your course – your personal evolution?  If you can, why not thank them today?

And as always……

I’LL DRINK TO THAT!