William Shatner

William Shatner.

We were discussing The Twilight Zone. Our friend said that Captain Kirk began his career in one of the episodes. Not actually Captain Kirk but the actor best known for the role he would play later in his long and mostly memorable career.

Four of us who had almost certainly watched Star Trek through the years. Had seen him in commercials, including one for Priceline. Had noted the ever changing hairline based on which toupee he was then wearing.

Four of us who drew a complete blank on his name. Rescued only by Google. The cell phone we rely upon as our ever present lifeline.

It was bad enough that each of us now in our 70's spent part of the evening in lament for the physical deterioration of those around us. Playing the Medicare version of "head, shoulders, knees and toes, head, shoulders, knees and toes, eyes and ears and mouth and nose."

My friend suggesting there should be a geriatric board or card game where each participant tries to outdo the others in pointing out sections of our anatomy in need of immediate medical attention (it reminded me of Operation- I did have to turn to Google for assistance in recalling the kid's game where you have to remove various body parts with a tweezer).

But it was William Shatner who was the star of this evening's entertainment. We on the darker side of aging in a constant battle with our brains. The conveyor belt between what we seek to retrieve and that part of our collective cranium storing this information in a constant tug of war.

Names of people we know, actors we have watched over decades, television shows and movies all just out of reach when the belt breaks. The repair person on extended holiday.

Maybe, as was also suggested, we invent a game where we merely describe a person, place or thing and another has to guess the word. Actually I am quite certain that has already been done. You know, that TV show with the host who was married to the famous comic actress who did that great bit about.....

Oh yeah, Allen Ludden. Betty White. Password.

I wonder if William Shatner ever was a celebrity guest.

Google says yes