March 2, 2009: Karen's 59th Birthday

[Rick Henry]

Please share your thoughts in honor of Karen's 59th Birthday.

[wisejester7]

The anniversary of Karen's birthdate and the fact that she is not here to celebrate only make me miss her and wonder what could have been.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Of course, I would have loved to "watch" Karen turn 59 - but alas, it was not ordained to be so.

I'm with you, wj7, thinking of her, anytime, only makes me miss her more, and wonder "what might have been."

Remembering Karen today, knowing she is at peace; and always enjoying her one-of-a-kind, quite beautiful voice...a voice that had a lot to say, and that seemed to have said it all.

[YesterdayOnceMore]

Just found this in the New York Times, and wanted to share what it said - under BIRTHDAYS:

"Karen Carpenter, singer who with her brother Richard sold more than 80 million records, 1950."

Nice of them to remember Karen.

[BethMosior]

Karen always remember how wonderful you were and that voice WOOOOOOW wonderful

[Dave]

My wife's flight to Disney World got cancelled on Sunday due to the "mega-storm" traveling through the South and making a mess of Atlanta. This morning, one of the first things we did was go online to see if her flight was still OK. USAir had a warning page for airports affected by the storm, and New Haven was on the list. I've been to Hall Street, and the following image came to mind...

I had this image of a group of hardy fans keeping vigil on Hall Street like sports fans waiting for tickets to go on sale...

Laughing off the snow and winter's bitter chill, they sang songs while holding candles and drinking hot chocolate. The neighbors offered them shelter, but they refused, keeping to their faith.
The family that lives in the home looked through the curtains, and invited everyone to come inside.
They knew what it would mean to these hardy souls, some of whom had come a long way only to experience a New England blizzard, and they knew that they just couldn't leave these brave souls to face the blizzard alone.

After a few hours, the warmth of home and hosts finally sent the last ones to sleep, where perchance they might dream of that home's earlier occupants, and simpler, happier times.

Kinda like the basement parties we used to enjoy here.

I thought about my "pilgrimage" this morning, and how emotional it felt, how my truck seemed to know the way all on its own, the image of kids playing ball in the street...yes, beginnings have their own sort of magic.

Happy birthday, Karen. We're one year closer to the day when all of this will somehow make sense.
Until then, you know how and where to find me...

[betossantana]

Cheers to Karen! She's not here for quite some time now but how wonderful it is that she has been at all!

[Rick Henry]

Throughout the past five years the way I see and remember Karen has changed quite a bit.

I remember a few years back making the comment that I was bitter and angry over Karen's death. It angered me that such a wonderful talent was taken from us at such a young age. It angered me that there would never be a new any new songs.

Though as time has gone by I've grown to appreciate the legacy which Karen left behind. There is so much music which still inspires and electrifies me to this day.

and my own outlook on who Karen was has changed. I used to see her as that "little girl blue" at one point in time but have come to realize that that is not who Karen Carpenter wanted to be or to be known as. Unfortunately because of the way she died the public has forced this name (and memory) upon her. I refuse to call Karen Carpenter the little girl blue (eventhough she sang the song extremely well). Just from all the pieces I can pt together... much of it coming from the very songs she personally chose to record on her solo album and from the pieces I got from the interviews I've done with people who worked with her Karen was far from being a little girl blue. She was a young woman who wanted a shot at independence, she wanted to be taken serious as an adult and as an artist. She had her goals and was ready to reach them. She was a strong woman... not a little girl blue.

I remember Karen as the "voice of an angel" the voice that has filled my life with much joy.

[smoothie2]

;D Beautiful thoughts expressed by all as the lump in my throat becomes a bit thicker with emotion.
I love all your thoughts out there.
I have not thought of the way a person's view of someone like Karen
can change as you say Rick. That's very insightful and I can see how true your thoughts are about her.
Tonight (3-12) I watched, (which I don't often do) a spooky movie
on Lifetime with Cynthia Gibb in it. Mainly I watched it because she was in it. In some scenes, the actress looks more now like Karen than she did when she played her in the K. C. movie a lot of yrs. ago.
I've seen Cynthia in other shows and she's a fairly good actress in her o wn right.
In any case, it's hard to believe that Karen would be turning 59.
Even tho she brought magic to all the songs she sang especially the ones on the sad and forlorn side, I do think, she had a very independent and lively spirit about her.
I'm just very glad I grew up with her music and that I understand and know her much better now the past few yrs.thanks to the forum here. ((())))
Thank you Karen, we miss you and love you!