Here's one of those great little stories that couldn't possibly have happened in the pre-Internet age. I mentioned some time ago that Leonard Nimoy is my (distant) cousin—his father was first cousins with my grandmother (yes, the one and only Grandma Sophie). That makes us second cousins, once removed.
Somewhere in this house I have a glossy stock photo Nimoy sent me when I was little. He's dressed as Mr. Spock and holding a model of the Starship Enterprise, and on it he wrote "To Cousin Karen: Happiness!" and signed it. I can't find it anywhere, but if I do, I'll scan it in for you. I've never met Leonard Nimoy himself, but many years ago I met his parents, Max and Dora Nimoy, at my grandparents' house.
So recently Nimoy joined the gang at Twitter, and I followed him, although he of course didn't follow me back. (Like most celebrities, he has something like 50,000 followers but follows only about 30 himself.) Yesterday, in honor of Mother's Day, he posted a wonderful old photo of his parents (you knew he's a photographer as well as an actor, didn't you?). I took a chance and replied to his tweet, saying that we are cousins, and that I remembered meeting his parents. I also gave the names of my grandparents. I had no idea if he would even read replies, but sure enough this showed up a little while later:
Imagine that! (I love that he "signs" all his tweets with LLAP!)
I know in my heart that being related to a celebrity doesn't really mean anything. But I'm also jealous - I love him and his work.
Posted by: Deborah | May 10, 2010 at 07:18 PM
I just think that's darned cool!
Posted by: Tonya | May 10, 2010 at 07:27 PM
This gave me a smile.
:)
Posted by: James | May 10, 2010 at 08:08 PM
Kevin Bacon was in "Murder in the First" with Christian Slater, who was in Star Trek VI with your cousin. Still, you know Grammar Girl, and she and Bacon have both been on Oprah. Meanwhile, a former co-worker's aunt knows Madonna's grandmother. I seem to have lost my train of thought here. LLAP.
Posted by: EditorMark | May 10, 2010 at 08:54 PM
Family trees can be so much fun. Thanks for sharing such a cool story.
Posted by: Jeananne | May 11, 2010 at 09:28 AM
Is that a play on "The Real McCoy?" Also, that isn't so distant a relationship!
Posted by: Elena | May 11, 2010 at 03:58 PM
I want to be on that show Who Do You Think You Are and find out some kind of connection like this. So cool.
Posted by: colleen | May 11, 2010 at 10:39 PM
Can't figure out what LLAP means??!??
Posted by: Donna | May 13, 2010 at 09:02 PM
You could click on it, but I'll tell you: It's "Live Long and Prosper," the Vulcan blessing.
Posted by: Karen | May 13, 2010 at 09:06 PM