Happy New Year, Dick Clark Inspires Us All

“Happy New Year, Dick Clark inspires us all”. It would not be New Years Eve without the big ball drop in New York's “Times Square” or without Dick Clark welcoming in another New Year for people around the world. As most people already know, Dick Clark suffered a massive stroke many years ago, which paralyzed some parts of his body and rendered his once amazing speaking voice to a whisper. As I wrote earlier, during this years “Dick Clark Rockin New Years Eve Show” – his speaking voice was much stronger than in years past since his stroke and that should give all stoke victims and their families hope that they too can come back from such a terrible event in their own lives.

As has been the case for several years now, Ryan Seacrest has co-hosted this annual event with Dick Clark from “Times Square” in New York City. During the first few years after Dick Clark suffered his massive stroke, I felt sorry for him as he stood before the nation and did his best to continue a tradition that he started decades before. However, during the 2010 NYC ball drop – Dick Clark's voice was stronger than it has been in years and that event made me smile more than anything else that was presented on this years ABC telecast. It is always touching for my wife and I when at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve, Dick Clark always kisses his wife on national television. That is the one thing we both look forward to seeing each and every year.

Soon, the NYC ball will drop for millions of Americans on the West Coast. I hope that my friends and neighbors out there are inspired by the improvement in Dick Clark's voice and condition as we were several hours ago when we watched that same New Years Eve ball drop from our home in Texas. Dick Clark should inspire both young and old alike with his stubborn, will not quit, attitude. Everyone of us has had a close friend or family member be stricken by a stroke and we all can take comfort in knowing that rather than that event being the end of a good and solid life, it could be nothing more than a maturing event that leads us all to a better, but different life in the future.