For some reason it occurred to me to check after last week's column and lo! Dr.TOS has stealthily managed to reach its first anniversary. One year down, six to go, since I'm hearing the cast contracts extend that long and frankly the show's a hit no matter how one looks at it. I believe the strength of the series has surprised even those expecting success.

You'd have to work real damned hard to kill the show at this point - not that it couldn't be done of course, just that there's every reason not to. The same clearly applies for "the franchise." What a difference this year has made for Trek! The twenty-year anniversary of "The Wrath of Khan" resounds with that same influx of fan energy that revitalized the dream in 18 BS. (The anticipated release of "Nemesis" later this year should ice the cake.)

At the start I saw the column as a recruitment tool for an email group in which I was involved. Since then I came to recognize a greater potential for positive exposure - for the moment, part of the larger hemp trek meme scheme - but now also openly dedicated towards resolving a friendly future. "More on that later," I said in the first column, referring to a need of our species to achieve space-going stature, not for challenge but indeed for survival.

At that time I was aware of arguments supporting that position in terms of promoting proper growth for our species (or avoiding stagnation at any point). Nothing has since changed my reasoning; in fact, more and more I appreciate the need for a positive vision of our future to accompany our actual accomplishments.

We must continue to proceed into both inner and outer space to complete the next step of our development. Five years ago the little Sojourner robot (making a brief appearance in the Enterprise credits) was prowling around the Martian landscape, sole champion of its domain. Even if by sheer comparison, Trek champions that corner of the ideascape dealing with optimistic human futures, wherever we will go.

In this remarkable year, about the only regret I hold is for The Calling's "Wherever You Will Go," to me the unofficial theme song of "Enterprise." Upon hearing that song (then and today) I always remember those pre-series previews featuring Archer in his cap looking up - exactly my pose at the time, similarly expecting a fantastic journey. For all those responsible for such a far, far, better place in which to grow ... thank you.