Unusual Desires: A Reflection on Peculiar Impulses and Awkward Encounters
In the book "Chicago Days, Hoboken Nights," author Daniel Pinkwater recounts a peculiar incident he experienced at a miniature museum. While visiting the museum, Pinkwater encountered a real mummy on display with a sign next to it that read, "PLEASE DON'T TASTE THE MUMMY." Despite the odd warning, Pinkwater found himself inexplicably drawn to the idea of tasting the mummy, only to be interrupted by a security guard before he could act on his strange impulse.
The security guard informed Pinkwater that licking the mummy was a common occurrence at the museum, highlighting the bizarre and unexplainable urges that people sometimes experience. This theme of unusual desires is further exemplified by an anecdote involving actor Walter Koenig on the set of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" in 1979. Koenig, who portrayed Pavel Chekov in the film, confessed in his biography "Chekov's Enterprise" that he felt a strange urge to kiss his co-star Persis Khambatta on her bald head during makeup and costume testing.
Koenig's urge to kiss Khambatta's bald head was fulfilled, leading to immediate embarrassment on his part. He speculated that Khambatta, being a beautiful woman, likely encountered such peculiar requests frequently. Reflecting on the incident, Koenig concluded that such unusual desires should remain as mere thoughts rather than acted upon, to avoid awkward situations and potential embarrassment.
Despite the awkward encounter, Khambatta never publicly addressed the incident with Koenig. Koenig, who continued his involvement in the "Star Trek" franchise, emphasized the importance of keeping unconventional desires in check to prevent uncomfortable situations. While Khambatta tragically passed away in 1998 due to smoking-related health issues, Koenig's reflections on the incident serve as a reminder of the strange and inexplicable urges that can arise in unexpected circumstances.