We have more high-tech, space age gadgets in our pockets and purses than the creators of the Sci-Fi classic "Star Trek" ever imagined. The franchise turns 50 next year, and yes, the parties, conventions, and out-of-this-world celebrations are already in the works.

So as we prepare for "Star Trek's" Big 5-0, let's remember some of the things we loved about rushing home after school to park ourselves in front of the TV for the latest episode in the original series:

• Tribbles. And more tribbles.
• Spock’s brain.
• God-like non-corporeal aliens passing judgment on humanity.
• KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!
• Transporters. (Did you know "Beam me up, Scotty" was never actually said onscreen?)
• All of Dr. McCoy's painless and non-invasive medical treatments. 
• The first interracial kiss ever shown on television - and how it became a part of television and American history. 

Yes, we remember the cheesy special effects, the wobbly sets, the over-the-top over-overacting. But remember, the producers were struggling with a very low budget. Yet they still managed to create a science fiction experience that lives on today.

And even though we don't have molecular transport or interstellar travel mastered yet, we have to give the show some credit for inspiring some of the technology we take for granted in every day life. Like cell phones (communicator) and MRIs (tricorder).

If the last half a century is any indication, the next fifty years of "Star Trek" will continue to entertain, inspire and give birth to new technology.  I can't wait to see what they will come up with and what will mean to the "real" world.

In a happy coincidence, The Sound of Music and Julie Andrews both have something to celebrate this year: the film’s 50th anniversary and Ms. Andrews’ 80th birthday (October 1).

I remember watching the movie and jealously begging Mom and Dad to hire a lively singing and dancing governess to take care of us after school. Of course, we didn’t need a babysitter, but that was hardly the point. I guess I just wanted a way to bring the music and the magic home with me.

The film won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director and 2 Golden Globes, including a win for Best Actress. But did you know Julie Andrews almost missed out on the role? Walt Disney helped her land the part by sending a clip from the yet-to-be-released Mary Poppins to the director, who promptly cast her in the iconic role of Maria — and created a timeless classic.

65 years ago today, Charles Schultz's first PEANUTS comic debuted in the daily newspaper. Now widely known as "the longest story ever told by one human being", the lovable strip has fans all over the world, has been translated into 21 languages and still appears in newspapers today.

To celebrate the day here are some fun facts you might not have known about the gang:

• Charlie Brown's signature shirt didn't appear until 3 months after the first strip was published. After that, he never took it off. (Except to wash it - we hope!)
• Snoopy had only one pet peeve: just like a real dog, he hated being patted on the head! (Dogs really don't like that - not one little bit!)
• The cast of characters started small with only Charlie Brown, Patty, Shermy and Snoopy in the early strips. The others came along later, relegating poor Shermy and Patty to bit players in the strip.
• Pig-pen's real name has never been divulged. Not once.
• The Apollo 10 command module was nicknamed "Charlie Brown" and the lunar module was nicknamed "Snoopy". Though they weren't included in the official mission logo, they were the unofficial mascots of Apollo 10.

I remember reading and clipping the Sunday strips more than the dailies. They were in color, a bit longer and because the funnies were the only part of the Sunday paper that sort of "belonged" to me. I still have a lot of those old clippings. Though they're faded now and hard to read, digging them out of the attic seems like the perfect way to celebrate this milestone day.

Baseball lost one of its finest alumni this week. On Tuesday, September 2nd, Yogi Berra died at the age of 90. I remember the glory days – the Yogi days – when Berra was a star player, manager, and coach. He was an 18-time All Star, a 10-time World Series champion, and one of only five players in history named Most Valuable Player three times.

But instead of running down his batting averages and super stats, I’d like to take a minute to remember some of our favorite “Yogi-isms” – the things he said that made us scratch our heads, or think a little bit, or just laugh out loud.

• "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."
• "Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded."
• "Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
• "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore."
• "We made too many wrong mistakes."
• "If the world were perfect, it wouldn’t be." 
• "The future ain't what it used to be."
• And of course… "It ain't over till it's over."

But my favorite Yogi Berra quote of all time? “I never said most of the things I said.”

Who knows if he did or if he didn’t say all those crazy, funny, memorable things? What we do know is what Yogi Berra was to baseball and America: priceless in every way.

From his famous leather-clad TV special to his Vegas days, I can’t think of any other pop star who enjoyed the enormous popularity and longevity of Elvis Presley. Even today, people still listen to his music and collect t-shirts, calendars, clocks and anything else that reminds them of the days when Elvis ruled the radio waves.

I remember sitting by the radio with my friends, waiting impatiently for the DJ to play our requests and breaking into wild dances when “Teddy Bear” or “Jailhouse Rock” finally came blaring out of the speakers. I'll never forget how Elvis made us dance and sing. And how my mom used to shout at us to “turn down that radio right now!”

Though they don’t play his music on popular radio anymore, I still have all my original Elvis records. I still dance around when I play them, though maybe a little less wildly. And I still play them really, really loud. The only thing that’s really changed is no one can make me turn it down when I’m rocking out to The King!

Most of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing at the moment of certain defining events in our shared history. The day JFK was assassinated. Or John Lennon was killed. Or the morning 14 years ago when two planes intentionally crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City.

I was driving to work. When I arrived, I saw on the faces of my coworkers the same look I imagined I was wearing. I don’t remember much about the workday after that. Somehow we all got through it. Together.

But I – we – will never forget that day. Or where we were when we heard. Or about all the people who worked at WTC and all the people who charged into those doomed buildings.

Today — above all days — we remember. We think about all those who were lost. We honor the brave first responders. And we salute the American spirit of strength and perseverance that saw us through it all.

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Do you remember your favorite teddy bears from childhood? Maybe you still have one or two of them up in the attic? September 9th is the day to bring them out, show them off and give them a great big hug — it's National Teddy Bear Day!

Stuffed bears appeared on the toy scene in the early 1900s, but did you know the toy got its name from US President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt?

Here's what happened: the president was on a hunting expedition, but he wasn't able to bring down any game. Then someone brought out a baby bear and suggested that Roosevelt shoot it. Roosevelt, a sporting man, refused. The incident generated a lot of press, which inspired a New York toy maker to create a new stuffed animal, "Teddy's Bear."

And the rest is history.

So on September 9th we can celebrate all the joy we get from our stuffed, plush, furry friends. And we can celebrate Theodore Roosevelt, whose refusal to shoot a helpless little baby bear inspired a toy that's given us smiles, comfort, and cuddles for more than a hundred years!