This article was originally published in The Phoenix on Jan. 6, 2006...
Seeing Dick Clark on New Year's Eve really touched me, as I',\m sure it did millions of others around the world.
I'm also sure it may have been somewhat of a downer for some on such a festive night. Reality is sometimes hard to face. Mr. Clark suffered a stroke in early 2005 and hasn't been seen or heard from since.
I remember Dick Clark from his days of hosting American Bandstand from Philadelphia. We saw him over the years everywhere from hosting game shows to commercials. He was always described as "never getting old, forever youthful". And he was always there, in one way or another, a reliable rock in a world of instability.
Speculation ran wild over his condition. When it was announced he was coming back to host his annual New Year's Eve bash on ABC, rumors swirled. Of course, ABC built up the suspense until his first appearance became like a sideshow act. I admit, there was a strange sort of curiosity in the air before he was seen. What would he look like? Would he be able to walk? Talk? Would he be confined to a wheelchair?
Exactly what would he be doing, either in chilly Times Square or in the warm safety of a studio? Acting as host like so many years before, or merely a puppet on the stage for all to see/?
They even had his eventual replacement, Ryan Seacrist, on board, I'm sure to ease the responsibility of the evening, as well as a way to "ease" the new host in with the New Year, for many years to come.
I wondered how Mr. Clark really felt about that. I would thin it would be a source of comfort, yet also an odd feeling, knowing your replacement for the next, oh, 30 years or so, was standing by, jus tin case you couldn't cut it anymore.
But life goes on, as the old years dissolve into the new. Symbolic, sort of.
Anyway, when Mr. Clark finally appeared he looked fairly well. But his speech was noticeably effected by the stroke. It was slurred and garbled, yet I could understand almost every word.
Seeing him for the first time brought me a sense of sadness, not pity, but also relief. The icon was back. I didn't really care about his youthfulness anymore. I really didn't even care if I couldn't understand his words. I cared about him. I just felt happy that he was OK.
Several things struck me that night. First, I admired Mr. Clark's immense courage, not only for battling back from what must still be a long, hard road of recovery, but for appearing on the show. It's not easy to admit you may not be what you once were. Physically, he has changed. But more importantly, he showed that he stil has a lot of fight left in him to overcome this tough challenge. He is an example of never giving up.
He also reminded us that nothing lasts forever. We should appreciate what we have in our lives, especially our loved ones, while we can. Even famous people get sick. Sickness and disability is, unfortunately, a group which anyone can join at any time.
But he proved that, slowly but surely, you can do the best with what you have in life. You start a new chapter in your book, and move on.
Finally, his appearance reminded me that above all else, one's health is most important in life. Without good health, nothing else matters.
So. as another year vanishes into the history books and a new year descends upon us, let's all hope for a healthy, hapyp new year. And I hope Dick Clark is still around for many more New Year's Eves to come.
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