Post by cam83 on Oct 6, 2003 1:19:00 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty One
By October, the whole family had met Jon, as she now called him, and they really liked him. They didn't feel as threatened as they did with Tom. Jon was busy with his career, but they both made time for each other. That was their number one concern.
Karen and Richard were back at the ABC Studios taping for their Christmas Special. It would take a look back at their Christmas career, with generous samples of songs, skits and outtakes of their routines, which were hilariously funny. Richard and Mary, Agnes and Harold, Bernice and her husband, Evelyn, Florine, Jonathon, the Carpenters Band, and various other friends would be guesting, as well as the stars of the show, Kenneth Lynn and Kristi Anne.
Their album CHRISTMAS (ALWAYS IN MY HEART) was released on November 15, 1988 and by Christmas was certified platinum. Their CHRISTMAS MEDLEY peaked at # 8 on the Pop Charts and on the A.C. chart it hit # 1 for 3 weeks. Their special on the Neilson Ratings titled CHRISTMAS-A LOOK BACK WITH THE CARPENTERS was # 2 for that week, and garnered over 31 million viewers. They were quite pleased.
Karen and Jon, had a ball fixing up her place. They had trees all over the house, and each one decorated with a different theme. They spent days fixing the place up, and afterwards, it looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Karen's place was going to packed with relatives, and Jon's family was flying down at the insistence of Jon. Karen was really excited to be able to meet his family, which he spoke of with so much respect and love. She hoped that they would like her.
They began arriving on the 23rd of December, as they lived all over Canada. Karen's relations would be staying at her place, and at Mom and Dad's. There was plenty of room for everyone. There were the 3 younger sisters who were in their late 20's and early 30's: Theresa (28), Melisa (29), and Maria (33). Then there was David (39), Anthony (42), and Catharine (44). Jonathon was in the middle at age 36. He was 2 years younger than Karen, but that didn't seem to matter to them. Jon's parents were Daniel and Katie Andrews. They were in their mid-60's and very nice and warm. Karen and her family felt at ease with them. Karen's parents and Jon's parents went out for supper and had an enjoyable evening. Jon's siblings also brought their spouses and their kids, so all in all, there were over 17 from Jon's family. Aunt Bernice and her family
had found a place not too far away, and Florine lived in the Guest house, on the grounds, as she was still under Karen's employ. Karen loved the fact that Jon's nieces and nephews ran around the huge house, and had fun. They took to Karen like a cat takes to a scratching post.
The entire Carpenter family, and Andrew family gathered at Karen's home for Christmas eve celebration. This was the night of the Carpenters television special, and everyone thoroughly had a good time. They gathered around the piano, and sang songs. The Andrew family was very musical, as Jon's sister Theresa was a concert pianist. David taught music at the Winnipeg school. Everyone sang quite nicely.
Richard sat at the piano, as Karen leaned against him on the seat, and the room hushed. With the fireplace glowing behind them, and the house darkened, it cast a beautiful glow on everyone. Karen began to sing O HOLY NIGHT, followed by O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, JOY TO THE WORLD and ending with AVE MARIA.
Everyone was spellbound, and a feeling of love and hope circled the entire room, with over 27 people in the room. After there was refreshments, and the little kids were sent up to their beds to wait for Santa Claus. They weren't too thrilled about going, but Karen started to sing, "You better watch out, you better not pout…Santa Claus is comin' to town…" so they went off to bed, just in case…
By October, the whole family had met Jon, as she now called him, and they really liked him. They didn't feel as threatened as they did with Tom. Jon was busy with his career, but they both made time for each other. That was their number one concern.
Karen and Richard were back at the ABC Studios taping for their Christmas Special. It would take a look back at their Christmas career, with generous samples of songs, skits and outtakes of their routines, which were hilariously funny. Richard and Mary, Agnes and Harold, Bernice and her husband, Evelyn, Florine, Jonathon, the Carpenters Band, and various other friends would be guesting, as well as the stars of the show, Kenneth Lynn and Kristi Anne.
Their album CHRISTMAS (ALWAYS IN MY HEART) was released on November 15, 1988 and by Christmas was certified platinum. Their CHRISTMAS MEDLEY peaked at # 8 on the Pop Charts and on the A.C. chart it hit # 1 for 3 weeks. Their special on the Neilson Ratings titled CHRISTMAS-A LOOK BACK WITH THE CARPENTERS was # 2 for that week, and garnered over 31 million viewers. They were quite pleased.
Karen and Jon, had a ball fixing up her place. They had trees all over the house, and each one decorated with a different theme. They spent days fixing the place up, and afterwards, it looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Karen's place was going to packed with relatives, and Jon's family was flying down at the insistence of Jon. Karen was really excited to be able to meet his family, which he spoke of with so much respect and love. She hoped that they would like her.
They began arriving on the 23rd of December, as they lived all over Canada. Karen's relations would be staying at her place, and at Mom and Dad's. There was plenty of room for everyone. There were the 3 younger sisters who were in their late 20's and early 30's: Theresa (28), Melisa (29), and Maria (33). Then there was David (39), Anthony (42), and Catharine (44). Jonathon was in the middle at age 36. He was 2 years younger than Karen, but that didn't seem to matter to them. Jon's parents were Daniel and Katie Andrews. They were in their mid-60's and very nice and warm. Karen and her family felt at ease with them. Karen's parents and Jon's parents went out for supper and had an enjoyable evening. Jon's siblings also brought their spouses and their kids, so all in all, there were over 17 from Jon's family. Aunt Bernice and her family
had found a place not too far away, and Florine lived in the Guest house, on the grounds, as she was still under Karen's employ. Karen loved the fact that Jon's nieces and nephews ran around the huge house, and had fun. They took to Karen like a cat takes to a scratching post.
The entire Carpenter family, and Andrew family gathered at Karen's home for Christmas eve celebration. This was the night of the Carpenters television special, and everyone thoroughly had a good time. They gathered around the piano, and sang songs. The Andrew family was very musical, as Jon's sister Theresa was a concert pianist. David taught music at the Winnipeg school. Everyone sang quite nicely.
Richard sat at the piano, as Karen leaned against him on the seat, and the room hushed. With the fireplace glowing behind them, and the house darkened, it cast a beautiful glow on everyone. Karen began to sing O HOLY NIGHT, followed by O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, JOY TO THE WORLD and ending with AVE MARIA.
Everyone was spellbound, and a feeling of love and hope circled the entire room, with over 27 people in the room. After there was refreshments, and the little kids were sent up to their beds to wait for Santa Claus. They weren't too thrilled about going, but Karen started to sing, "You better watch out, you better not pout…Santa Claus is comin' to town…" so they went off to bed, just in case…
