Thank You Leonard Nimoy

Artistic individuals are born with a need to express their point of view through the process of creation. And depending on the genius of that person, a work becomes synonymous with their name and legacy. This is the case with Leonard Nimoy.

Yes, I'm a Trekker, a card carrying diehard fan of the series that began on television and exploded on the big screen.  Mr Spock, the logical, pointy-eared First Officer of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701, got me hooked. 

Thanks to Leonard Nimoy, the iconic actor whose talent put life into the green blooded half Vulcan/half human character, Spock became an icon. Years after Star Trek: TOS went off the air, Spock's gestures remained part of lore. There was the raised eyebrow that communicated enough disdain to confound Queen Victoria. There was the single, cryptic "Fascinating!" uttered at moments of scandal, of nonsense, of drama. And there were the rare, but hilarious, moments in which the deeply nonsensical humor that was inside Spock shone through brilliantly.

All these were Nimoy's gift as an artist, such a large gift that the actor became synonymous with the character, something that plagued Nimoy throughout his life. Ultimately, he made peace with that. "But given the choice, if I had to be someone else, I would be Spock," said Nimoy. 

Thank you, Leonard Nimoy, for giving life to that character on behalf of your fans. We realize that as an artist you struggled with being typecast, and we thank you for embracing that struggle on our behalf. We all realize that your gift was far wider in scope than the character Spock, and we thank you for that as well.

And while you lived to a robust human age, we wish your alter-ego Vulcan side had prevailed so you could have lived even longer, and prospered even more.

Amen, and "Dif tor heh smusma."