This last weekend, I was in Pensacola, Florida. When I told my friend that, he said “what are you doing in Florida?” I said, “Trying to get out.” But I was actually there for Pensacon. It’s a convention that has invited me year after year, but hasn’t ever fit into my schedule until this year, so it was my first time.
Florida deserves the jokes we make about it, but my experience when I was there was quite lovely. Every person I interacted with was kind, friendly, helpful. I had an incredible piece of blackened gulf red snapper for dinner one night, my bed was comfy, and I did not have a single awkward or uncomfortable encounter with anyone at the show.
None of that is why this will be one of the most memorable conventions of my life, and I will now tell you why.
Holy. Shit.
I turned to my friend, Leah, who works with me at conventions to keep things running smoothly. “Dude, I have to come do this tomorrow.”
“Okay, we’ll take care of it,” she said.
So Saturday comes around, and I’m signing autographs at my table. Leah taps me on the shoulder and says, “it’s time to go downstairs.”
The excitement that surged inside of me threatened to explode out of my chest like Alien. I told the people who were in the line that I would be right back, I was going to fulfill a childhood dream.
We went downstairs to the photo-op area, and I apologized to the line I was cutting. They seemed to understand, my fellow fans of CHiPs, who also could not believe this was actually happening.
I bounced on the balls of my feet while I waited, and oh shit here comes Larry Wilcox. And he’s wearing a CHP uniform shirt with a name tag that says JOHN! I tried so hard to control my bouncing, but I’m pretty sure I failed.
We made eye contact and I said, “Hi, I’m Wil. I’m a huge fan and I am so excited to take a picture with you.”
“It’s so nice to meet you, I’m Larry.” We shook hands, and I didn’t keep shaking it like I did when I met Henry Rollins thank god.
There was a commotion around the corner, which could only mean one thing. Here comes Erik Estrada, much taller than I expected, and he is wearing a uniform shirt with a name tag that says PONCH.
Dude, it’s totally Ponch. Like, right there, right in front of me, are Ponch and John and I’m so excited I can’t tell if I’m going to burst into tears or throw up or what.
They take their positions on their marks, which are the same marks I had been using just a little bit earlier, and the photographer tells me that they are ready.
This is my chance. This is the one time I get to say this. I take a deep breath, and I say, “I don’t want to take up a ton of your time, so I’ll say this quickly. I grew up in Sunland-Tujunga, and you guys used to film in my neighborhood all the time.”
They looked at each other. “Sunland-Tujunga!” Larry Wilcox said. “We love Sunland-Tujunga!”
“Yeah, it was a great place to grow up. So I loved watching CHiPs, and I loved that I could see streets I recognized when I watched it.
“One day when you were filming, in like 1979, I think, my babysitter went to the set and came back with your autographs for me. I cherished them, until they were lost in a move probably 40 years ago.”
Erik Estrada’s eyes lit up and he flashed me that classic Ponch smile. I took a steadying breath.
“But this is really what I wanted to tell you: I had a rough childhood, with a lot of abuse an exploitation. I was sad and scared most of the time. But whenever you were on my TV, I was happy and I was safe. I loved CHiPs so much. You were the adults I wished I’d had in my life. You guys protected people, you stood up to bullies, and the whole cast felt like a group of people who were always there for each other. I desperately wanted that in my life, and watching CHiPs got me as close to it as I could get. So I really just want to say thank you for your work and for the joyful memories you gave me.”
“Oh, buddy,” Erick Estrada said, “thank you. Come here,” and he pulled me into a warm and loving hug.
“Thank you,” I said, “you have no idea.”
“I think maybe we do,” Larry Wilcox said, very kindly, with a warm smile. Maybe I’m not the first person to share a story like mine with them.
“Let’s take a great picture,” Erik Estrada said.
“Thank you. I’d love that,” I said.
I stood between them, they put their arms around me, and a dream came true for 9 year-old Wil.
They were such kind men. I felt seen and I felt special. All these years later, Ponch and John can still make this weird, sad, scared, little kid feel safe.
I will cherish this memory for the rest of my life.
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I’m happy to hear that they’re as awesome as I always hoped they would be! And I hope that you know you do for other people what they did for you.
Awww, great story -let the healing continue! Peace out!
This is beautiful! I love this for you! Tears in my eyes. Congratulations♥️
This was awesome to read. Sometimes meeting your heroes is wonderful.
I’m not crying…you’re crying.
And maybe me too.
I love this for you! You absolutely deserve all the happies this brings.
Your story got me to tear up a bit. I loved CHiPs as well, and for many of the same reasons as you. I’d have been as star struck as you were.
THAT is amazing in SO so so SO many ways! And for me, meeting YOU at convention in 1988/89 when I was 14/15 was a highlight moment that I will not ever forget (even though my mom embarrassed me SO bad in front of you!) I admired you so much and it’s only much much later after reading the whole of your story which you so bravely shared through your books and blog, etc. that I realized why so much resonated. Thank you for honesty, kindness, transparency, and advocacy.
Wil, you made me cry with happiness at your meeting two guys I too watched at a difficult time in my life. And “CHIPS” gave us so much stability in a time when (like now) things weren’t always easy. So many of the stars we grew up with are exactly as we imagined they would be, and they help make memories that last. And you do that for all who enjoy all the work you do! Always remember you too are part of that chain.
It is physically impossible for me to love this more. The joy on your face could power a city!
Dude, I’m so pleased for you. I loved CHiPs when I was a kid too. I have many fond memories of watching it with my grandmother on Sunday mornings when I was supposed to be at church. I’m really glad you got to meet those guys. I hope I get the chance someday too… just not today.
Thank you so much for sharing this ! The words aren’t coming easy at the moment so I’ll leave it the way it started… thank you SO much for sharing this !
Blessings !
Jay
Awww! This is so sweet! ❤️
So glad they understood what their show meant to you! I teared up just thinking about how kind and understanding they were to you. I can just imagine how they spread this kindness to so many people whose childhood memories include them, letting people feel seen and making their day just a little special. Cheers to childhood heroes being everything we hope they will be.
❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙❤️
Who’s cutting onions?!!!
I have goosebumps AND I’m crying! I love this so much ❤️
Honestly, this is how I felt meeting you and all of the Trek cast in Austin a couple years ago. They say to never meet your heroes because you’ll be disappointed but every single one of you were amazing people. I’m so happy you got to meet Ponch and John!
An awesome story, and always great to find out your heroes aren’t dicks (happy to live vicariously through your excitement)! I remember my mom and stepfather were out for a ride around our Canyon Country area and ran into them filming. They were happy to spend a few minutes chatting about motorcycles.
Cheers, and take care!
Wil, you look SO happy! I hope you realize that many of us feel like this when we meet you. I know I have!
Speaking of which, I was wondering if there is a way to find out in advance where you will be appearing? I found out last year, just by chance, that you were going to be at the Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, and luckily, I was able to make it fit into my schedule at the last minute. I’d love to plan more!
PS. FYI, I was the person who talked to you on the phone when we were teenagers, through a magazine contest 🙂
I love that you’re still here, all these years later.
I haven’t been good about updating my appearances page, but it’s here somewhere and I’ll stay on top of it so nobody has to scramble to make it to a show.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful memory with us.
Glad you found an island of peace in your life.
That is an amazing story! So glad you got to do that!
I love this for you so much ☺️
That is a great picture, I hope you treasure it for the rest of your life. Your story roped me in, my son lives in Pensacola, but by the end I was in tears. Thank you Wil for sharing
Thanks for sharing this Wil – I grew up on the show too (it’s at least half of why I ended up as a biker) and loved this.
That’s amazing. Congratulations! Awesome!
I’ve seen Erik a couple of times across a room. He seems to be an incredibly lovely human being, and he also has the straightest, whitest teeth I’ve ever seen on a human.
I get the same feels from Star Trek TNG and Lower Decks. I wish I had been able to better express myself that time I met you at your book signing.
This makes me so happy for you!
That’s just the BEST! Thank you for sharing your ups and downs. I’m so happy you’re in a better place in your life
I’m definitely teary-eyed. You all look so great, too!
This scrambled me. There’s something in my eye! Snif
We get so nervous about telling people we admire what they mean to us. But they, too, are just people, and they need to hear it. We all want to feel like our work is meaningful, right? What could be more meaningful than giving a vulnerable child a feeling of safety?
Anyway, Wil, I get it. I totally get it. (And I am pretty sure Larry and Erik did, too.)
What a great story. Thank you!
Such a great moment for you. I’m glad you got to fulfill a dream and make the kid you were an extra dose of love!
That is so freaking adorable and awesome. Yay!! So glad you got a chance to meet those guys and get a photo (looks fantastic!). I can’t meet famous people. I get awkward just thinking about it. (happily, I don’t get all awkward … much … when I write to famous people).
Oh how happy you look! I’m really glad you had such a warm, wonderful experience!
That is so cool!! I’m so glad you got to have a childhood dream come true!!
As someone who currently lives in Pensacola, I’m so happy that you will associate our city with this experience. I hope you are able to make it back here again someday.
It’s my understanding that, having been to Pensacola once, I am now cursed to return.
Honestly? It’s not the worst curse I have.
I love this story so much! Thanks for sharing!
You know that saying, “don’t meet your heroes”? I’m happy you met and reconnected with yours. I almost met Richard Burton once. I’m kind of glad it didn’t happen because, you never know.
You needed that. YAY!
That’s an amazing story! Thank you for sharing it! One more of the many great reads from you which makes me feel great about life and that there’s hope out there for us all!
They sounded like great and genuine guys and that’s a big relief! I know you’ve had your share of “don’t meet your hero” experiences when the person turns out to be less than stellar. I know that if I ever met you, I’d feel nothing but happiness and confirmation of what a great person you are.
I love that moment in history happened, and that the smiles were huge and the people were kind.
It’s nice to see you get to share a moment of joy with people whom you enjoyed watching, as a child, the way we all do, when we see you. Plus now you have your own connect to them, rather than just a secondary connection through Michael, from your Star Trek found family.
Oh, wow. (crying) That’s…Wow.
Way to go, 9-yo Wil! High five!
I’m glad that you got to express your joy toward people that you enjoyed watching, the same way that we get to tell you, when we see you. Also, now you have your own connection to them, and not just one through, Michael, from your Star Trek found family.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Love this!!! Also a huge CHiPs fan as a kid. So awesome the learn that those two guys are just as kind and amazing as I’d always hoped they’d be. Really happy you got to experience it in person. Thank you for sharing!
SOOOO happy for ya, Wil – that’s freaking awesome!!
The post title made me think this was about the band at first, totally forgetting where their name came from. Congrats, that’s awesome!
WOW another DarcIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are rare birds!
This makes me so happy. ❤️❤️❤️