There Can Be Only One

November 17, 2012

Yesterday, at a convention called SuperMegaFest, a quest that began over five years ago (see below) concluded when I met and got a photograph with actor and humanitarian Adrian Paul, who most famously portrayed Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod - The Highlander. 

Note that Adrian is in his early 50's and I am in my mid-30's. Do either of us look it? Who's to say we are not Immortals? (Thankfully, neither of us got the idea to try to take the other's head.)

Thank you for the pic, Adrian!

September 11, 2007

A week ago my sister Chadie, who trains in kung fu at the USA Shaolin Temple in New York, let me know that Adrian Paul started training at her temple.

Adrian Paul. Duncan MacLeod. The star of Highlander.

When I was in high school, Highlander was my favorite show (besides The Simpsons). Before Battlestar Galactica, Lost, Angel, Buffy, and before I ever even watched an episode of Star Trek (man, those were the days...) there were the time-spanning adventures of the immortal Duncan MacLeod, the Highlander. Sean, Bishah and I were total fucking nerds for Highlander. Trenchcoats and ponytails nerds. I still remember the opening spiel that preceded the Queen song by heart:

He is Immortal.
Born in the highlands of Scotland 400 years ago, he is not alone.
There are others like him, some good, some evil.
For centuries he has battled the forces of darkness, with holy ground his only refuge.
He cannot die unless you take his head, and with it his power.
In the end, there can be only one.
May it be Duncan MacLeod, the Highlander. 

Christopher Lambert's Connor MacLeod and the first Highlander movie was my gateway to the oft-maligned but still kind of wonderful Highlander universe. "Connor MacLeod was my kinsman; I don't know who you are." But Adrian Paul's Duncan MacLeod was my hero.

Today, I received a strange DHL package from Chad containing a pamphlet for the USA Shaolin Temple. I didn't understand why she sent me this and almost tossed it in the trash until I glanced at the back: Adrian Paul's autograph. To me.

I'm a happy guy today. Seriously, I couldn't be more pleased to have Adrian's autograph. Thanks, Adrian, and thanks to my sister.