Posted on May 16, 2010 - by pcmccullough

Life is like the Ed Sullivan Show

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They say it’s never too late to try something new, so I’m trying crutches.  At nearly 60 years old, I had escaped broken bones and any debilitating injuries until last Friday when a spill sent me to the emergency room.  X-rays showed a broken foot.  An ER technician wrapped the injury. After a 30- second crash course, I graduated from Crutch Academy and she sent me hobbling back into my life with instructions to contact an orthopedic surgeon who would cast it for me … Lovely.  

I’ve told the story several times since Friday and each time I do, though the physical pain … is a physical pain, the situation seems comedic, even laughable.  As I struggled through my house this morning navigating steps on my butt while dragging my crutches alongside, I thought about the Ed Sullivan show.  Why Ed Sullivan?

If you’re older than 50, you probably remember the king of variety show hosts.  Each Sunday evening Mr. Sullivan came into our living room.  We gathered around the television where were entertained by acts like The Flying Wallendas and other circus acts, Topo Gigio the singing Italian mouse, ventriloquist Senor Wensus and comedians like Rodney Dangerfield, Flip Wilson, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers and the list goes on. Each week he closed out the show with musical entertainment.  Who doesn’t remember the night the Beatles made their US debut performance on the show.

The show was pretty formulaic which may easily have played a key role in the high viewership, but I didn’t realize until today how closely that formula relates to life, at least mine. My life is a balancing act. I juggle multiple issues between aging parents in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, a career that takes me across the country sometimes multiple times in a month. While I’m gone, I do my best to keep all the plates spinning; a feat that, in itself, takes focus and perfect timing.  On the most challenging days, though I may try my hardest, I realize I just cannot pull a rabbit out of a hat.

Ed Sullivan never left us clutching our seats, wondering if the girl on the flying trapeze would fall into the net, or if the magician would somehow actually saw the beautiful model in half.  I end my days very much like Ed Sullivan ended his variety hour; I look for the lighter side of life, find something to laugh about and go to sleep with a song in my heart.