The recent death of Leonard Nemoy came as a surprise to me. Considering it’s something we all have to do at some point, I’m not entirely sure why. But as my dad once said, “you get used to life.” Death, of course, is inevitable.
“Duh,” you may say. And you’d be right. We all know this. But the thing is, even though I’m thirty-two as of this writing, mentally, I feel the same as when I was eighteen years old. Sure, the person I am now is radically different – I’m more mellow, open-minded, and I like to think I’ve learned a lesson or two along the way. But inside, I still feel the same. Sure, we can all see we’re aging, but the people in our lives (even our heroes) become a constant. Then one day, they might be gone.
That’s how it was for me with Leonard Nemoy. I knew he was getting older. But I guess a part of me expected him to keep on going. He didn’t have nearly as huge an impact to me as he has on others, but I can understand how they feel.
I felt similarly shocked with the passing of Wayne Static. Just the other day I was listening to some of his songs when I said to my wife, “I really miss Wayne… I can’t believe we won’t be getting any more of his music.” It’s odd for me to even feel that way as I’ve worked as a nurse for nearly a decade now, with most of that time spent in critical care. As you can imagine, I’ve seen a lot of people pass away. It’s not any easier now than when I first started, but I’ve found ways to cope.
But with Wayne… the fact that he’s gone saddens me. It’s like I knew him. For someone who’s largely come to terms with death and it’s inevitability, I feel shocked when I think of Wayne… I just saw him around this time last year.
And now he’s gone.
During that same conversation with my wife, I wondered aloud if I’d be listening to Wayne ten or twenty years from now. “I think so,” she said. As for the rest of the world, I find that doubtful. I don’t think Wayne’s music will be immortalized in the Rock and Roll hall of fame. But in the end, who fucking cares? He mattered to someone – quite a few someones actually. And isn’t that more than enough of a legacy?
Conversely, I think the original Star Trek will be watched a hundred years from now. Roddenberry’s run had a huge impact on our dreams ofspace and just how much humanity can achieve. It’s a refreshing piece of fiction that often brims with optimism in the face of adversity. Nemoy’s character, Spock, exhibits a duality that allows him to comment on the strengths and failings of our species. Without a doubt, Spock is what Nemoy will be remembered as. Clearly, he was so much more. But his role as Spock had such an impact that he’s seared himself into our collective consciousness.
The whole thing got me thinking… We all mean something to someone, even if we don’t realize it. The challenge we all face is leaving a legacy that has a positive impact.
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