Holiday Greetings from Eric & Debra! It’s been an exciting year for both of us! We first met each other in 1994. Last November we began working together in Burbank for Eric’s company, Horizon Conventions. This year we began dating. We fell in love. And we were engaged in July. Our first year together has been joyful, adventurous and fun, and we’d like to share some of the highlights with you...
In January we ran a convention together in Bellevue, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, where we had first met the previous summer. Debra, a registered nurse, originally from Canada (Montreal and Toronto), graduated from nursing school in L.A. in 1991 and later moved to the Seattle area. Eric (born in Okinawa and raised mostly in Oregon) graduated from the University of Oregon and moved to L.A. in 1985. Currently we both reside in Burbank.
February was a culmination of Eric’s lifelong interest in “Star Trek” as we all jetted off to London for our “Generations” convention at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring the entire cast of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Eric was accompanied by Debra and his friends Lolita, Larry, Toya, Charles and Zayra. Once in England, we were joined by Eric’s parents, Del & Frankie, and Eric’s sister and brother-in-law, Stacey and Marc. The convention was preceded by the black-tie European Premiere of the motion picture “Star Trek Generations” at London’s Empire Theatre in Leicester Square. We all arrived at the theatre to the cheering throngs of fans who had filled the square for more than two blocks! After the film, we all transported across London to the QVC Headquarters for a Gala Premiere Party sponsored by Moët et Chandon, the makers of Dom Pérignon champagne (who had provided the vintage 2265 bottles for the movie’s opening sequence, two of which were autographed by the cast and auctioned for charity during the weekend for more than £3,000!). Although Princess Diana wasn’t able to attend, the premiere and party were attended by the entire “Generations” cast as well as the film’s producer and director. The convention followed on Saturday and Sunday at the sold-out Royal Albert Hall, with Eric & Lolita as emcees and a capacity crowd of over 5,000 fans per day! The grand finale featured Eric’s friend Toya singing a soulful rendition of the Boyz to Men song “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye” which brought the crowd to its feet in a standing ovation. Sunday evening, we partied the night away at London’s very own “Star Trek” pub! (Thanks to the publicity generated by our convention, the film opened in Europe to the biggest numbers ever for a Paramount Pictures movie release!)
After the convention, Eric’s family and some of his friends stayed in Merry Ole England for a few days of sightseeing. Larry went to Scotland. Del, Frankie, Stacey & Marc went to Kent to visit the Canterbury Cathedral. Eric, Toya & Charles jetted off to Paris for several days, enjoying, among other things, Disneyland Paris, the Palace Versailles and numerous historic Parisian sights, including the Arc de Triumphe, the Champs d’Elysee and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.
Back in the U.S.A. -- March found us in Eugene for Debra’s birthday. In April, Eric flew to Chicago to be a member of the wedding party for his friends, John & Victoria. In May we spent a romantic weekend in New York City on a trip that Deb had won in a raffle, and later attended Eric’s family reunion in Oregon. In June we ran a convention in a very hot Palm Springs. More heat greeted us in Toronto as we flew north to visit Deb’s folks Clinton & Margaret, her brother Steven & his wife Elaine and their three kids, Sean, C.J. & Danielle. Father’s Day was spent visiting Niagara Falls, which provided some relief from the warm weather!
To escape the heat of North America, we headed back to Europe at the end of June. En route to Germany, we stopped in London, again, and spent two days sightseeing. This time we went to Kent to visit the Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle and the White Cliffs of Dover. We also got to see the Chunnel entrance that leads high-speed trains under the English Channel to Paris.
The July Fourth weekend found us in Münich, Germany, for a “Star Trek” convention attended by 3,000 German fans (and a few from Switzerland, Austria and Italy, too!). Eric was a guest speaker. Our German hosts were gracious and generous, as always, and after the convention they drove us to the foot of the Bavarian Alps where we got to visit the breathtaking Neuschwanstein Castle built by King Ludwig in 1886. Back in München City, we shopped in the outdoor markets and visited the Cathedral that housed the crypt of King Ludwig. And, of course, we got to visit a Bavarian Beer Garden in the heart of the city!
On July 21st we found ourselves back in Bellevue, Washington, for another convention. At 11:47 AM, in a small park on the shores of Lake Washington, Eric proposed on bended knee. The clouds suddenly parted, and as the sun shone through, Debra said “Yes!”
August was busy with conventions in Spokane & Portland. At the end of August we flew to Boston for three days, then embarked on the Royal Majesty for a “Star Trek” Cruise to Bermuda. We had a wonderful time in the British Colony of Bermuda and aboard ship (where Eric was one of the activities emcees). We even met some new friends along the way and managed to avoid several hurricanes! In Bermuda we particularly loved the Moongates -- archways crafted from coral limestone -- a local symbol of romance & marriage which, according to legend, provides a lifetime of happiness to couples who pass through them.
In October we were back in Eugene for a convention (and to make wedding plans!). In November Marc & Stacey were in the Los Angeles area and we got to spend some time with them. This weekend is Thanksgiving. In two weeks we’ll be in Portland for another convention, then back in Burbank for 12 hours en route to Florida for ten days in mid-December to visit Disney World, Epcot Center and Debra’s parents at their winter home in West Palm Beach!
We want to wish everyone “Happy Holidays” and a wonderful New Year! And we hope to see you all in Eugene on July 13, 1996 for our nuptial ceremony and celebration!
Love,
Eric & Debra
