The Klingons next door

Leila McMichael as a Klingon, “Keela sutai-Septaric.”

By: Gwen Veazey | Morganton News Herald
Published: September 15, 2008

Leila McMichael spent most of her childhood in Caldwell County. Her family lived in a scenic valley five miles down the mountain from Blowing Rock. She said, "We couldn't get decent TV reception in that hole."
She never saw the original 1966 Star Trek until it hit reruns. In her sophomore year of high school at a friend's house with color TV, she fell in love with Mr. Spock and the whole Federation universe. And of course those wicked Klingons ...
From the beginning, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry dealt with difficult social issues such as racism. Promoting the idea of humanity working together went down a little easier disguised as futuristic interstellar adventures. Humans were even able to get along with some of the Klingon warrior race, symbolic of Cold War Russians. Eventually, Star Trek drew in millions of fans worldwide.
In the late 1990's, McMichael joined a Klingon club and got the bug to express her fondness for Star Trek through costuming. She said after studying pictures and the TV show, "I made my first attempt in 1999. It was rough. I approximated the look with vinyl and it was sweltering to wear." She splurged on the signature ridged brow headpiece, though. She added, "I now have some wonderful head pieces and four different outfits. You can buy expensive wardrobes online, but I made most of mine, except the black boots and metal jewelry on my honor sash."
McMichael, a former Home Health worker, studies nursing at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in Hudson. Her husband, Andy, works at Corning Fiber Optic Cable in Hickory. He often joins her at science fiction conventions or charity events dressed as a Star Wars Imperial Officer, a character from a different fan universe.
"I know some think, 'who are these crazy people who dress up funny?'" McMichael said. She added, "My Trekkie credo is based on a line from the 'City on the Edge of Forever' episode in which Captain Kirk says something like, 'One day in the future an alien philosopher will write the three most important words in the universe: let me help.'"
The future nurse said through her fandom she has raised funds and assisted the Make a Wish Foundation, Hospice and Palliative Care of Catawba Valley, and worked on two food drives which have benefitted four charities. "In costume, I've visited folks and offered encouragement, read to children in library programs, and taken part in the Catawba Science Center's Mars exhibit." She recently sold seven boxes of donuts at the Star Trek Independent Fleet picnic in Valdese, attended by about 30 people. She asked if I wanted to buy some. "It benefits Cats' Cradle." She knows I'm an old fan of that organization.
I ran into her over Labor Day at Dragon*Con, a science fiction convention in Atlanta where she and Andy were coordinating Klingon Karaoke. They originated this event in 2002 at Spartacon in Spartanburg. Costumed fans belted out their favorite tunes, everything from Frank Sinatra and Patsy Cline's "Crazy," to "Let's Do the Time Warp Again" from Rocky Horror Picture Show.
After over 40 years, Star Trek fandom is going strong. A new movie, titled simply "Star Trek," hits screens in 2009.
McMichael said, "Every nuance of the fan experience gets expressed. I'm aware of some people who speak pure, beautiful textbook Klingon, but wouldn't dream of dressing up."