Post by cam83 on Oct 1, 2003 1:14:35 GMT -5
Chapter Ten
This next year was devoted to Karen and her second solo album, and Karen was very excited about it. She really wanted to grow and mature as an artist, and see all the different avenues that she could discover. Richard was planning to do some production on other artists' albums, as he too wished to not remain idle. And with his last Grammy win, he was in demand as well. Karen was so thrilled that they had won.
The announcement came that the Grammy Nominations were in, and the Carpenters were nominated for 5 Grammys and that Karen was nominated for 3 Grammys for the song MY BODY KEEPS CHANGING MY MIND, which had been released just last year. They were very excited. This reminded them back in their early days in 1970 and 1971 when they won their 3 Grammy Awards…a new day was dawning for them, and it gave them so much hope.
Karen and Olivia Newton-John were planning to get together in New York, to record their duet. They had planned for such a long time, and didn't want to let the opportunity slip through their fingers. They had already made a few selections, wanting a suitable song that was within their range, image and that would be a smash hit, appealing to the public…something catchy.
Karen was packing her suitcase, when the phone rang. Instantly, she just got a feeling of who it was, as her senses began to tingle with excitement. Sure enough, she knew as soon as she heard his voice…Tom. They had kept in contact for the last several years, but not enough. Karen so desired in her heart to settle down and make their marriage work. She refused to sign the divorce papers until she knew within her heart.
"Hello Tom," said Karen in a quiet voice, so very unsure of what to say, and what not to say. She wanted to say so much, and yet at times, it came out so wrong. Why couldn't she let her true feelings be known?
"Karen! How did you know it was me?" questioned Tom in disbelief, who was glad that she seemed receptive. The wall that sometimes was there was gone tonight. He could sense it as well. Something had told him to call her, and so he did.
"I just knew…So how are you doing? I bet your work is keeping you busy, right?" said Karen, with a smile on her face. If only he could see her now, he would probably laugh. She was wearing a fuzzy bathrobe, with a towel wrapped around her head, as she had just stepped out of a much needed bath to do some packing for her New York trip tomorrow.
"You're right…I am busy…uh Karen! The reason I am calling is that I want you and me to have dinner tonight. How about it? I want to see you Karen," said Tom, in almost a pleading type of voice. And he never pleaded before like that, Karen could tell that something was on his mind.
"Well…Tom. I just had a bath, and I am not ready or anything. I am packing to go to New York for the next few months working on another album…and well, I don't know…" trailed Karen in a voice that seemed so unsure. What should she do? She had dreamed of this moment for years, and she had already imagined what she would do and say. Now that the moment was hers, she was so confused. Go figure! She thought to herself.
"Just say yes, my love. I still love you Karen despite what your family thinks of me. I want the chance to tell you what I feel, and I want to know how you truly feel. I can be over in an hour, and we can go for a late supper. Does that sound alright Karen?" said Tom in a shaky voice. Karen had never heard his voice like that before.
"Okay! Come by and I'll be ready, but no promises! Understand! Just talking…that's all that we're gonna do, right?" said Karen in a firm voice. She was ready to tremble with fatigue. All those feelings again.
"Yep…just talk Karen. That's all we're gonna do. See ya in an hour Karen," said Tom. He now sounded jubilant, and that worried Karen. What did he expect would happen? Nothing, she hoped.
Karen left her packing the way it was, and just solely concentrated on getting herself prepared. What should she wear, as she rushed to her huge closet. She began to sift through the many outfits that she had, wondering what in the world, she was going to wear. She couldn't make her mind up. What would look good on her?
She wanted to make such a profound impression on Thomas, as it had been almost 3 and a half years since he had last seen her. November 1981. That evening burned in her mind, as if it were yesterday. Such a long time ago, and so much had happened since then. She decided on a blue, shimmery dress, but upon looking at herself in her tall mirror, she tore it off, in disgust. Her hips seemed to stick out more than usual. No, that dress wouldn't do. So she tried on a red pant suit with a white blouse. A matching vest that went with the pants, completed the outfit. She decided not to wear the suit jacket. This was no power lunch. There was elegant red embroidery on the blouse, and she decided to wear some red earrings that a fan had bought for her. Red high heels complimented the outfit, and as Karen glanced in the mirror, she was pleased with what she saw. Next she worked on her hair, and all she had to do, was comb it. It was very long, and straight. Actually the longest it had ever been. It was halfway down her back, and it looked silky, just like in those shampoo commercials. She applied some light makeup to her face, and she was ready.
She had a few minutes to spare, so she began to clean up a non-existent mess in her kitchen. Something to keep her hands and mind busy. Butterflies were forming in her stomach, and she felt so nervous. She decided to go downstairs and wait.
She grabbed her purse, her keys and headed out the door. Calm down! She kept telling herself. Just stay calm! Nothing's going to happen if you don't want it to happen. No one was in the elevator with her, so she was glad for the chance for some quietness and a chance to breathe deeply. The elevator door opened, and she walked to the lobby. She glanced at her watch, and saw it was ten to nine.
This next year was devoted to Karen and her second solo album, and Karen was very excited about it. She really wanted to grow and mature as an artist, and see all the different avenues that she could discover. Richard was planning to do some production on other artists' albums, as he too wished to not remain idle. And with his last Grammy win, he was in demand as well. Karen was so thrilled that they had won.
The announcement came that the Grammy Nominations were in, and the Carpenters were nominated for 5 Grammys and that Karen was nominated for 3 Grammys for the song MY BODY KEEPS CHANGING MY MIND, which had been released just last year. They were very excited. This reminded them back in their early days in 1970 and 1971 when they won their 3 Grammy Awards…a new day was dawning for them, and it gave them so much hope.
Karen and Olivia Newton-John were planning to get together in New York, to record their duet. They had planned for such a long time, and didn't want to let the opportunity slip through their fingers. They had already made a few selections, wanting a suitable song that was within their range, image and that would be a smash hit, appealing to the public…something catchy.
Karen was packing her suitcase, when the phone rang. Instantly, she just got a feeling of who it was, as her senses began to tingle with excitement. Sure enough, she knew as soon as she heard his voice…Tom. They had kept in contact for the last several years, but not enough. Karen so desired in her heart to settle down and make their marriage work. She refused to sign the divorce papers until she knew within her heart.
"Hello Tom," said Karen in a quiet voice, so very unsure of what to say, and what not to say. She wanted to say so much, and yet at times, it came out so wrong. Why couldn't she let her true feelings be known?
"Karen! How did you know it was me?" questioned Tom in disbelief, who was glad that she seemed receptive. The wall that sometimes was there was gone tonight. He could sense it as well. Something had told him to call her, and so he did.
"I just knew…So how are you doing? I bet your work is keeping you busy, right?" said Karen, with a smile on her face. If only he could see her now, he would probably laugh. She was wearing a fuzzy bathrobe, with a towel wrapped around her head, as she had just stepped out of a much needed bath to do some packing for her New York trip tomorrow.
"You're right…I am busy…uh Karen! The reason I am calling is that I want you and me to have dinner tonight. How about it? I want to see you Karen," said Tom, in almost a pleading type of voice. And he never pleaded before like that, Karen could tell that something was on his mind.
"Well…Tom. I just had a bath, and I am not ready or anything. I am packing to go to New York for the next few months working on another album…and well, I don't know…" trailed Karen in a voice that seemed so unsure. What should she do? She had dreamed of this moment for years, and she had already imagined what she would do and say. Now that the moment was hers, she was so confused. Go figure! She thought to herself.
"Just say yes, my love. I still love you Karen despite what your family thinks of me. I want the chance to tell you what I feel, and I want to know how you truly feel. I can be over in an hour, and we can go for a late supper. Does that sound alright Karen?" said Tom in a shaky voice. Karen had never heard his voice like that before.
"Okay! Come by and I'll be ready, but no promises! Understand! Just talking…that's all that we're gonna do, right?" said Karen in a firm voice. She was ready to tremble with fatigue. All those feelings again.
"Yep…just talk Karen. That's all we're gonna do. See ya in an hour Karen," said Tom. He now sounded jubilant, and that worried Karen. What did he expect would happen? Nothing, she hoped.
Karen left her packing the way it was, and just solely concentrated on getting herself prepared. What should she wear, as she rushed to her huge closet. She began to sift through the many outfits that she had, wondering what in the world, she was going to wear. She couldn't make her mind up. What would look good on her?
She wanted to make such a profound impression on Thomas, as it had been almost 3 and a half years since he had last seen her. November 1981. That evening burned in her mind, as if it were yesterday. Such a long time ago, and so much had happened since then. She decided on a blue, shimmery dress, but upon looking at herself in her tall mirror, she tore it off, in disgust. Her hips seemed to stick out more than usual. No, that dress wouldn't do. So she tried on a red pant suit with a white blouse. A matching vest that went with the pants, completed the outfit. She decided not to wear the suit jacket. This was no power lunch. There was elegant red embroidery on the blouse, and she decided to wear some red earrings that a fan had bought for her. Red high heels complimented the outfit, and as Karen glanced in the mirror, she was pleased with what she saw. Next she worked on her hair, and all she had to do, was comb it. It was very long, and straight. Actually the longest it had ever been. It was halfway down her back, and it looked silky, just like in those shampoo commercials. She applied some light makeup to her face, and she was ready.
She had a few minutes to spare, so she began to clean up a non-existent mess in her kitchen. Something to keep her hands and mind busy. Butterflies were forming in her stomach, and she felt so nervous. She decided to go downstairs and wait.
She grabbed her purse, her keys and headed out the door. Calm down! She kept telling herself. Just stay calm! Nothing's going to happen if you don't want it to happen. No one was in the elevator with her, so she was glad for the chance for some quietness and a chance to breathe deeply. The elevator door opened, and she walked to the lobby. She glanced at her watch, and saw it was ten to nine.
