Four Decades of Star Trek

So, Thursday night Ned and I went to the Rockland library, which was having a series of evenings titled: Four Decades of Star Trek.

Thursday, November 1 at 6:30 PM
Four Decades of Star Trek:
Star Trek: The Next Generation

Guest Host: Star Trek star and director, Jonathan Frakes

Four Decades of Star Trek continues with a celebration of the 20^th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation. We’ll be talking with Next Generation star and director Jonathan Frakes, giving away Star Trek dvds & books, and screening two episodes from Star Trek: The Next Generation. In The Pegasus, the Enterprise is ordered on a covert mission involving a secret Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) has held for 12 years. In The Next Phase Geordi and Ensign Ro are pronounced dead after an accident. They awaken on the Enterprise, only to find that they can’t be perceived by any of their crewmates.

* * * PLEASE NOTE: Seating is limited to the first 75 attendees * * *

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So, Jonathan Frakes was great. He was funny, told lots of stories, and was there for about an hour and a half or so. Ned was disappointed because it wasn't set up for Jonathan to sign things (lots of people had brought things for him to autograph). I wasn't as worried about it because I already had an autograph from before (story to follow). I just relaxed and enjoyed myself. Took a couple of pictures, only one came out. I had worn my new Bajoran earring, set my cell phone ringtone to the Star Trek theme (although I had to set it to silent during the actual event, it was fun when it rang while we were waiting for it to open). Definitely glad I went, although I was totally exhausted by the time I got home, and yesterday I wasn't good for much of anything. Still, wouldn't have missed it.

My other Jonathan Frakes story: a few years back, Mom and I were in Planet Toy in Rockland, just leaving, when around the corner came this little family--mom, dad, boy. The dad, who was very tall, was just putting his son up on his shoulders, to the delight of the youngster. I was smiling at the sweetness of the family scene, and admiring the very attractive dad, when I suddenly realize that it was WILLIAM RIKER FROM STAR TREK!!!! I was agog.

After an extremely short discussion with mom, we went back into Planet Toy, and after a couple of minutes of working up the courage, I went up to him and shyly asked if he was Jonathan Frakes. He confirmed that he was, and I said that I really admired his work. He thanked me, we shook hands, I asked if he could sign my bag (the Planet Toy bag), he did (he wrote: Go boldly! Jonathan Frakes), and I thanked him and went away. He was very nice, friendly, and holycow handsome.

Meanwhile, my mom had been stalking his wife around the store (he's married to Genie Francis, better known as Laura from General Hospital). Mom never did get to speak with her (Genie was talking with someone about murals for her son's room). I was floored at how dumpy and unattractive Genie was in person. I mean, bad. Maybe she was just having a really, REALLY bad hair-and-makeup day, but it was kinda shocking to me.

Jonathan and Genie live in Belfast, where she owns and runs a shop called The Cherished Home. (one of the questions someone asked was whether he helped out in the shop. He said his wife wouldn't let him do anything except cut up boxes and stack them neatly in the dumpster. He was also allowed to move things from the Cherished Home to "the cherished shed," and change lightbulbs.)

So, there's my story. Kinda cool for me. mk