This whole pandemic is hard on everyone, in a lot of different ways. I’m incredibly lucky so far, and I don’t have to worry about food or going broke, but I’ve been *really* feeling how I don’t have loving, unselfish parents in my life who I can lean on, and get comfort from, while I do my best to get through all of this.
Yesterday, LeVar organized a Zoom thingy for all of us from TNG, because normally we would be together for Marina’s birthday, but obviously we can’t do that this year.
For about 90 minutes or so, we all hung out, visited with each other, loved each other, laughed our faces off, and felt connected, as a family.
I didn’t realize until long after we had ended the thing, just how much it meant to me to be with my family, the family that loves me unconditionally, unselfishly, simply because I exist. I’ve been so focused on being a reliable husband and father, I haven’t had a moment to exhale, and just be a son who is scared and anxious and needs parents to just tell him everything is going to be okay, and who will acknowledge that he’s doing the best that he can.
I got all of that from my Star Trek family, at a time when I didn’t even know just how much I needed it. I feel like I’ve been holding my breath for weeks, and yesterday, I exhaled for the first time.
And can I just take a moment to observe how totally cool it is that we were using a real technology to be together, a technology that we used to pretend was real, for our job. I can’t prove that video conferencing like this exists because of Next Generation, but I can certainly choose to believe that we played some part in inspiring the engineers who developed it.
Wherever you are, I hope you’re getting the love and support that you need and deserve. We’re all going to get through this, together.
Wil why haven’t you or any of the TNG peeps spoken out about Kobe?
I would guess it is because none of them knew him, so they have no relevant insight to share.
I don’t know, maybe!
So beautiful. I had the good fortune of landing as The Kid in a group of supportive colleagues early in my career, and those relationships and familial dynamics have lasted over several years now and meant so much. I hope they continue as yours have. Thanks for sharing a bit of the story of your chosen family.
OMG, that screenshot of your Zoom meeting is PRICELESS!
I guess, to some people, a photo feels more grounded than a screenshot?
Thanks for this, Wil. You got to spend time with your family, and that helps me remember that there are good things out there. I’m back to being essential tomorrow after a few days off. I don’t want to go out there. I want to stay home and be alone and worry about what to binge watch and such, but that’s not my fate right now. It’s scary and hard out there where the people are right now. Things like this, anything positive, helps me forget that for a bit. Thanks.
Thank you so much for what you’re doing on the front lines! Praying you stay safe and healthy.
I cant tell you how helpful it is that you are public about not having a living, comforting family. I have tried so hard with mine. They are better, but not dependable. I’ll be happy when it’s over, frankly, and regret letting them back into my life.
The hurts recieved in childhood have to be mourned again and again, as I grow, as i age, as i realize what it meant. My parents were not that young. I’m that age now. Oh, was a teen- oh, my kids are teens, now. I would still never do that. My parents…well, they didnt do their best, did they?
I do my best though, most of the time. And I try hard to build family of friends, as insecure as that is.
You deserve all good things. Likely, we will never meet, but your writing comforts me immensely.
Awwww, this is so so sweet! And beautiful! And I’m not crying, YOU’RE CRYING is totally crying a little
I always loved knowing how much the cast really loved each other, and how much you all loved your jobs!
That we all would have a such a wonderful extended family. We use zoom like software to visit with our daughter and her husband and play cards. It was wonderful as we are 14 hours away from them. It helps when you can’t be physically together. Thanks for sharing Wil.
Hey, Wil. I am a middle aged white suburban happily married man with a comfortable stable job even through this craziness, and yet, and yet, the feels from that post hit me deeply. Thank you.
This. Is. Amazing!
Thank you! This is wonderful!
Virtual hugs
Thanks, Wil – I needed that today.
This is wonderful – thank you so much for sharing a photo of your family and your thoughts on using technology that you used to pretend was real. All kinds of awesome. <3
Thanks for sharing this 🙂 It’s comforting to see family-by-choice being so supportive of each other, even when they’re physically distanced.
This made me cry a little. I love so much that you have them in your life, still.
I saw Marina’s tweet about this and it made me incredibly happy seeing all of you on that screen. It reminded me how much TNG was a part of my life for a time, and just how much I love all of you for bringing it to life. I’m so grateful for social media for allowing me to continue to get a peek into your real life selves and to more easily follow your careers so I can continue to enjoy your work – it almost makes up for the panjandrummary. 🙂
Such a great thing to see all of these people from my favorite show of all time, one that greatly influenced my life. Thank you so much for sharing Wil and I’m so thankful that you have this family to lean on when you need it.
I’m so happy that you have a family who loves you, even if you’re not connected by blood. Sometimes those are the best families.
This was a lovely post, Wil. Thank you for sharing. Makes me happy that you all are still friends after all these years.
I love this on multiple levels and dimensions. Thanks for sharing.
This felt like exhaling – thank you for putting words to something I’ve been feeling too.
This was amazing to see on Marina’s Twitter, look like you all had a blast!
(as a side note, I noticed I apparently got caught up in the Twitter blocking of your account, Wil. Any chance I could get that reversed? Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask, the original threads were all closed and didn’t see anything about how to go about asking at this point – if I can be unblocked, @Amthranz is my handle).
What a lovely get-together. And well done on The Ready Room for Star Trek: Picard – I for one felt your giddy joy at the whole thing!
The best crew ever! You beat a few nasty bugs on the show, and you’ll also beat this one 🙂
Hey Wil, thanks so much for sharing this! So happy to see you with your family and so happy to know that you all are actually a real family and not a fictional one I have built in my imagination. I love that you all are close enough family in real life that you are doing a family zoom during the stay at home. Just like all of us “normal” people. Thanks for reminding us that you all are normal too. I love that everyone everywhere is doing a lot of the same things to stay connected to our loved ones. Despite all our differences we are all just regular normal people trying to be with the people we love and who love us. I’ll say Thanks again, because it is amazing and wonderful.
This is wonderful for a variety of reasons. First, I love the fact that you and your fellow TNG cast members are still such good friends after all these years. Second, I equally love that you’re all a family and you’re getting the love and support from your adopted family that you deserve, and your birth parents can’t/won’t give you. Having grown up with a narcissistic gaslighting mother, I understand what you mean.
It’s a nice thing to read something that is positive in this times. I am not more than one of millions TNG fans. But I feel pride in saying to have discovered your blog for me (yes, it was because of your role in BBT). I am not obliged to comment always,but for this I have to make a comment. Just to say, thank you. Best wishes and stay healthy okay.
Wil, once again, thank you for being so real with all of us. You are an amazing man and I am so looking forward to meeting you. Maybe Denver this year, maybe sometime in the future but you have made a difference in my life,e specially since Con in Denver years ago. I am glad you and Anne have each other.
This was life-affirming. Thanks, man.