All together: Hi Jeff.
Even though I don't wear t-shirts with the numbers (although I bought them for my kids), I don't own a blue '68 VW bus (although I've looked for one on Edmunds), I don't have Dharma logo decals on my car, I didn't name my daughter Kate (or Juliet, or Claire, or Penny) and I don't use "Namaste" as a greeting, the addiction runs deep. I occasionally catch myself saying "Dead is dead." and "Live together or die alone."
I'm not about to kid myself I can quit anytime. That's just crazy talk.
Last night was LOST night at the annual Paley Festival, a two-week celebration of the top television shows of the moment put on every year by The Paley Center (formerly The Museum Of Broadcasting, formerly The Museum of Television & Radio). For the price of the ticket, the public can see panels made up of the actors, producers, writers and directors of the shows. And if you're addicted to a particular show - say for example one about a group of airline passengers who crash on a mysterious island - it's an outstanding evening of stories, process and behind the scenes intrigue.
The LOST panel was made up of several executive producers/ writers, and three of the main stars: Locke (Terry O'Quinn), Ben (Michael Emerson) and Richard (Nestor Carbonell). Each was intelligent, funny, entertaining and just as much in the dark as I am about what's going to happen to their characters from week to week.
Since addiction loves company, I was there with my son (sadly addictive behavior is often passed down to the children), and my good friends Mike and Janice, two fellow LOST addicts.
All together: Hi Mike, Hi Janice, Hi Jeff's son.
The evening was spectacular. Like the show, the panel was just as mysterious when it came to answering some of the questions, and we were all left wanting more.
But here's the sad truth about LOST addiction. Even more is never enough.
