Visiting the Land of the Lost
First published on NAH on August 14, 2017
I am complete.
My writing career has seen me interview Vladimir Putin, visit five continents, and placed my work in print, online, on the radio, and on TV.
None of this compares, however, to what it brought me this past Saturday.
Because this weekend my career took me back to my childhood.
This weekend I got to meet the stars of one of my early influences.
I got to meet the stars of The Land of the Lost.
No show from my youth influenced or inspired me more than The Land of the Lost.
The story of a family trapped in an alternative universe populated with alien species, dinosaurs, myths and legends, might seem like an odd introduction to a writing career that primarily focuses on hunting, fishing, and outdoor travel but then I’ve never been accused of being traditional.
Watching The Land of the Lost all those Saturdays ago instilled in me a spirit of adventure, the want to explore, and the desire to experience more than the ordinary. Immersing myself in episode after episode taught me story structure, character development, and how even the strangest of situations could be made relatable through great story telling. I watched and studied the show, played it outside with friends, and fantasized about it while in school.
The show meant a lot to me.
So when I saw that the main stars of the 1970’s show were going to be within driving distance of me I used my journalism connections to get a pass to meet them.
“Why does North American Hunter want to cover a sci-fi / fantasy convention?” I was asked upon my request.
I explained – and somewhat begged – and was given a pass for the day.
I entered the convention and quickly made my way to The Land of the Lost booths where I found actors Kathy Coleman and Wesley Eure excitedly interacting with fans. I introduced myself, told them I was working on an article, got a few pictures, and left.
My girlfriend found my abrupt departure odd and asked why I didn’t tell the actors what their time on that long ago show meant to me.
I replied that I didn’t want to bother them, that I didn’t want to take time away from fans that had actually paid to interact with them, and that I was still processing my finally meeting the stars of something that actually meant so much to me.
Yeah.
I was kind of nervous.
And, not only that, but I’m a better writer than speaker.
Thus the above rambling about my meeting, albeit briefly, Kathy Coleman and Wesley Eure.
I thank them both as well as the entire staff of The Land of the Lost here in writing.
Thank you for your inspiration and all that it has led to in my life.
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