During the original run of Star Trek: The Next Generation, my college roommate and I invited our friends over to our duplex for Star Trek parties. Our local TV station ran the show at midnight Sunday, which was a terrible time, but we sometimes had 30 people over.

Though we kept in touch virtually, I hadn’t seen my roommate for probably 20 years, so it was pleasant surprise to hear him say he was thinking of making the 4-hour drive to see my daughter perform as Anna in The King and I.

MIke and I met up around lunchtime and spent the afternoon catching up. My son had a new chess partner (Peter says Mike is a better player than I am, but Peter still beat him both games).

As our evening was drawing to a close (at the cast party at the local IHOP), Mike said he had a record for me, but he didn’t want to say what it was.

“Willian Shatner sings?” I guessed.

“That’s scarily close,” said Mike.