Music Concert or Comedy Show?

      I would choose the music concert every single time, unless my favorite comedian Eddie Murphy was in town, then I would so be there!!  Not just any music concert though.   As far as comedy shows go I have only ever been to one and that was a performance of George Carlin.  While he was funny, after a while my face began to hurt from laughing so much and it got old for me.

      I have a couple videos of Eddie Murphy’s stand up routine plus a vast collection of his movies and that man has never failed to make me laugh until I practically peed in my pants.  When I was a freshman in college at a notably churchy school I used to play my copy of Eddie Murphy Raw at full blast. Why?  I was rebelling from the mandatory 7 days a week dose of religion.  I love Eddie Murphy’s smile and that unmistakable laugh.   His stand up routine is outrageous and just kills me.  I am also a big fan of his movies from the Beverly Hills Cop trilogy to the 48 hours and it’s sequel among countless others. 

      When my mom was on dialysis back in the early 90’s I would go along for the 4 hours she was on the machines.  Sometimes I would read, watch TV, and other times I would visit with some of the other dialysis patients.  I was amazed one day when I chose to sit down and talk to a man who had not only lost the function of his kidneys to diabetes but his leg and vision as well.  To look at him he didn’t look to me like he would have any good stories to tell.  You should never judge people by their appearances because he proved to be a very interesting man who before diabetes had wrecked havoc on his life had drawn maps by hand, most notably maps for the Calgary Olympic Games of 1988.

        He also told a very amusing story about how his sister had recently vacationed in
Las Vegas.  Evidently while at her hotel she had stepped on an elevator with 6 tall, well muscled black men.  When one of them told her to hit the floor she freaked out, and expecting to be robbed she  body slammed herself to the floor with her arms in the air.  The elevator erupted in laughter.  Embarrassed she got back on her feet, pressed the floor she wished to get off on, turned a brilliant red, and as soon as the doors opened beat a hasty retreat.  At the end of her stay she went to the front desk to settle her bill and check out.  Guess what? Her bill had been paid in full.  Astounded she read the note left by her benefactor which said: “I have never laughed so hard in all my life! You made my day.  I hope you enjoyed your vacation.  Thank you for a laugh I will never forget!”  The note was signed Eddie Murphy.

        Now when I pop in an Eddie Murphy movie or stand up routine from my collection I remember the man from dialysis from long ago, his sister’s story, and Eddie’s generosity.  It makes me smile as much as his dancing, prancing, and off the wall raunchy humor does.   So if Eddie Murphy isn’t performing, then I would go for a concert every single time until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.