Thoughts and What Not

*WARNING: While this is not a review it will most certainly contain spoilers, read at your own cognizance*

So I went and saw the new Star Trek film last night, and I have to say I quite enjoyed it. That being said, it was something of a bitter sweet viewing as it once again brought focus on the unfortunate truth that the Star Trek Universe has lost not one, but two, of its bright and shining stars this past year and a half.

As you all know Leonard Nimoy passed away early last year in February, and while Spock stated: "Every life comes to an end when time demands it. Loss of life is to be mourned, but only if the life was wasted" it is rather hard to put that into practice, at least at first. The passing of Leonard however was something that was at least a possibility that we all knew was coming, and he lived an incredibly full life.

This year however, we had a much more tragic passing. Anton Yelchin passed away due to an unfortunate accident, and while I wouldn't say his life was wasted, it was most certainly cut far too short. Anton was only 26 years old and had his best years still ahead of him, and I mourn both the loss of his life, and the loss of all that he did not get to accomplish and experience, for he was on a path that few of us get to tread.

I mention these losses to the Star Trek family, as they were given notice in the film (albeit only briefly for Anton as he passed just last month). As the film is getting under way, young Spock (Zachary Quinto) is informed of the passing of Ambassador Spock (Nimoy) and is given a few personal affects left to him by his older self. Among those cherished few possessions that Spock had with him after the time lines split in the 2009 Star Trek film that relaunched the series, we are shown a single photograph of the original Star Trek crew all gathered on the bridge. This scene was probably the hardest one to watch as it was painful for a variety of reasons. First, it was a reminder of something we would never have again, as out of the original seaven members of the bridge crew, only  four remain with us: William Shatner (Kirk), George Takei (Sulu), Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), and Walter Koenig (Chekov) remain. Second, it showed us something that can now never happen for the new Star Trek crew, as Anton is no longer with us.

Moving away from the unfortunate loss of life, I look to the future of Star Trek and I see the hole that now exists, as even if Chekov was recast (which they have stated he won't be) it still wouldn't be the same. I feel guilty that part of me is more focused on how this affects the franchise that I love, but at the same time I did not personally know Anton and as such its easier for me to focus on that which more affects me, and to be frank that kind of makes me feel like shit.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not entirely sure what I intended to accomplish here today with this post. I guess as I get older and I continue my path to maturity (a path that will never be finished imo), I've begun to reflect more on the things that I'm missing out on, not necessarily because I wouldn't do them, but because I didn't do them in time. This is something of a scary thought as my own father is in less then ideal health and I know my time with him is becoming more limited.

I guess, in the end, it comes down to this (and its certainly something everyone has heard in some form or another): Cherish your loved ones while you can and live every moment of your life to the fullest, as tomorrow is not a promise.

-P

Pain is an illusion of the senses, despair an illusion of the mind