The Daily Times

There are things you just don’t mess with. I believe Texas is high on the list. Or, so I’ve been told.

However, I’m going to focus on MORE important things: mamas, heritage and beloved childhood pop culture icons. I’m sorry, Texas, but you just don’t rate with that company.

Anyway, I’m getting ready to take this “My Way” entry into warp speed. After all, a 63-second teaser for next year’s “Star Trek Into Darkness” hit the web this past week. Fair to say that it stirred up a few reactions from me and other diehard fans.

When “Star Trek,” J.J. Abrams’ reboot/remake or whatever you want to call it, came out in 2009, I was skeptical. I had no clue what to make of the notion of someone daring to take on a property as sacred to me as the Trek franchise. It’s something that has produced many fond memories. And an (almost) obsessive past littered with memorabilia of all sorts.

I’m not sure what attracted Mom to the “Star Trek” universe, but I’m glad she got sucked into it. My brother and I were indoctrinated when we were young, and the lessons stuck.

We started out with “The Original Series,” which aired from 1966-1969. Obviously, it was long before my time, but Mom bought various episodes on VHS. I might have been young, but I knew TOS was something special.

I reveled in the adventures of Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy. The bravery, adventure or hijinks enthralled me with each episode I watched.

In 1987, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” debuted and enchanted a whole new generation of audiences. I was pretty partial to the original Enterprise crew, but Captain Picard and company managed to make me a fan of their version, as well.

Part of it might have been the youngest crew member, Wesley Crusher, played by Wil Wheaton. It was love at first warp for me. Mom encouraged my young love affair by finding a mini-poster of Wheaton that hung next to my bed. I might have gazed up at it lovingly a time or two ... or more.

My family went all in with our Trek fandom. We had novels, magazines and various other bits of memorabilia. I’m pretty certain Mom even bought me a Tribble at one point. (Don’t worry. No alien life forms were harmed in the making of this column.)

For those who don’t know, Tribbles first appeared in a TOS episode entitled “The Trouble With Tribbles.” The critters were small, round balls of fluff that purred and soothed the savage beast. Well, beasts that weren’t Klingon. Get one of those guys around them, and the tribbles emitted a shrill squeal. But, I digress.

No, our family didn’t revolve around “Star Trek” like the planets revolve around the sun. But just like most types of fandom, it went deep. For the record, I’m fairly certain there are levels of obsessive that went beyond ours.

Anyway, when the 2009 film came out, I was prepared to hate it. I scrutinized the cast and everything else I could. Amazingly enough, I enjoyed it. Loved it, even. Yes, there were some liberties I thought Abrams shouldn’t have taken, but overall, it was good.

The second film is expected next year, and the teaser trailer didn’t tell us much. Unless you were in Japan. That version might have told us too much.

The Internet has been flying with speculation since the trailers were released. I’m not going to spoil it for anyone, but I’ll simply say that it’s big. Probably too big for the second entry in this “new” series.

If my eyes and Abrams’ teaser didn’t betray me, I’ll simply say that it’s a bad creative decision. If that’s the case, I’ll say this decision could create big waves within this property ... and not in a good way.

As a lifelong fan, I don’t know if my heart can take it. Pray for me.

Amanda Greever is assistant managing editor at The Daily Times. She writes a weekly column in the Sunday Life section. She can be reached at 981-1161 or (amanda.greever@thedailytimes.com) Follow her on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com _editor.