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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 12, 2003 1:02:52 GMT -5
I am going to go somewhat out on a limb with this topic. I'm going to discuss some of my inner thoughts and views. I hope that nobody misunderstands anything I post here. This post is about observations and growths I've made in my life.
I've often thought about how my love of Karen's voice and the music of The Carpenters has been a factor in helping shape the peron I am today.
I think being so in tune to The Carpenters has helped me to become more sensitive to the feelings of others. This happened in part due to Karen's death.
In my early teens from the mid seventies to the late seventies, I just was not all that tuned into the feelings and hurts and pains of others. When I was a seventeen year old kid it was all about "me". If I saw someone who looked different or funny or over weight or under weight I would make fun of them with my frineds. We'd make fat jokes and skinny jokes and jokes about all types of people. I was a dumb somewhat ignorant seventeen year old kid. But I did grow out of it and I've gained much valuable experience in life and living with others.
Now I see someone who is under weight, over weight, or obviously in some distress I just want to pray for them that God will help to heal them.
I have a friend who is obese. she is at her all-time top weight of 575 pounds. She got that way due to an eating disorder. She is now in the process of being approved to have the same type of surgery Carnie Wilson had a few years back.
Just knowing someone like my friend who is obese and also having been so intune to the life of Karen Carpenter, I look at people differently. I'm much more compassionate and caring.
I've noticed that The Carpenters seem to attract a broad range of people from different backgrounds, ages, beliefs, nationalities, religions and so forth. The Carpenters cross boundaries, barriers and demographics.
Hopefully someone else will be able to add to this topic and expand on these thoughts.
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Post by Federico Cruz on Nov 12, 2003 7:16:33 GMT -5
Beautiful thoughts,Rick!
I was like you in my teens, in my twenties and in my thirties...
The only explanatation I can find is the age: when I turned to my forties, I became softer.
And I think this happen to women with the maternity, rather than the age....
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Post by cam83 on Nov 12, 2003 15:44:40 GMT -5
Nice thoughts Rick!
I have to add, that I have always been intune with other people's feelings ever since I was little. I would always befriend the Geek, or the unpopular kid just because. I felt sad for them. That was the way I was raised, to be nice to those who are disadvantaged. I also think this was because I was adopted at age 6, as I was Native, and adopted into Dutch Mennonite Mom and Italian Dad's home...I was different and so I had to fit in, in everything I did. At church, school, afterschool activities. I met my Waterloo at the Private Christian school I went to from grades 6 to 9...and it was a horrible time...all because I was Indian, and they were white...it took me till my Grade Ninth year to finally fit it...but looking back, I would never send any of my kids(don't have kids...but if I did) to a Private School...
I also think that Karen rarely would make fun of anyone. That was not in her personality I think. I mean, she liked a good joke but I think she would always be careful of other people's feelings. The fact that she would give out cards, letters and gifts to others is unmatched! She really was caring and compassionate type of soul.
Cam
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Post by smoothie2 on Nov 12, 2003 20:48:26 GMT -5
 :)Very special sentiments! Life is about learning as we grow and growing as we learn in everything. As far as myself, I guess I fit in more with Cam in that I was brought up to care for others no matter what, but just be aware that there are dangerous people who do not care about anyone and will seriously go out of their way to hurt us, either physically, mentally, with words or etc. I was not outgoing as my bro. and sister were and are growing up. They were popular in school, in sports, band, choir, dating. I had one or two close friends in hi school. My main thing was to make good grades and I always had to work at it. I dated off and on for 6 yrs. one fella. And I had some fun with my friends. For one thing, they were musically inclined. One came and played my mom's piano and we sang. Another friend played guitar. Overall, during those hi sch. days, I was the last kid left at home. I tended to be withdrawn somewhat. If it hadn't been my love for music..especially the Carps. and J. Denver, and so many great artists...life would have truly been almost unbearable. I dated a guy with a hearing aid and speech impediment. He was used to being kind of an underdog and being made fun of. I just liked him but not romantically so much. I loosened up some as I moved away from home in the late 70's. I was Free..! somewhat. I became more outgoing and met more friends. I became active with other church kids too as well as those not churchy. I fell in love. Bad grades sent me packing to back home and getting a job. I married a guy ..a professional student..much older. No one liked him much and we had some tough yrs. He always had to have music mostly country on at all times. He learned to like more of the rock music and so on. And so..blah blah.. he died of bad health. I faced the most gut wrenching days after there for a long time. But then it's been a long time since then. It's good for you to tell us these things Rick and everyone who wants. And now in my life I find there's peace in my heart , even when things are bad...because of my faith in God , but I appreciate music just as much as ever. Without a song...without children..without some tears..how bad things would really be. I'm sorry for your friend Rick but I'm glad she's going to get help. Carpenters..well, success doesn't always mean happiness. There have been many times that just playing on the computer or listening to music has soothed over my ruffled feathers. So, I see what you mean. I think and I hope that the Carps. realized this wider scope you speak of. Sorry, I'm sure to bore some folks...
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Post by smoothie2 on Nov 12, 2003 20:57:16 GMT -5
:)And Federico and Cam it's good to hear your thoughts. We all have learned through the yrs. with the Carps. Sounds like we all have grown. I also think that Richard and Karen were free spirits, happy basically at heart and in their up-bringing. They had the right stuff ..so glad they did!
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Post by smoothie2 on Nov 12, 2003 21:04:00 GMT -5
and hey..my nickname and feel free to chuckle..in hi sch. was ...Canary Bird! I despised it nor understood it during those times, but it's funny now..because I Was much more sophisticated and serious and a deep thinker than all those clowns..(ha I thot I was..) I think it had something to do with the way I walked maybe I still do..not bowlegged..but a little weird somehow with one leg and I surely wasn't skinny...oh well, canary birds arent so bad!
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Post by ThomB on Nov 13, 2003 3:24:29 GMT -5
I've noticed that The Carpenters seem to attract a broad range of people from different backgrounds, ages, beliefs, nationalities, religions and so forth. The Carpenters cross boundaries, barriers and demographics. I've seen The Carpenters mentioned in some very different places and oddball places. One was on this right winged replubican's webpage. His site had links to other repulican websites, religious organizations and financial organizations. Amidst all this the guy managed to mention that Karen Carpenter was his favorite singer of all-time, and he also had a link to this webpage. I thought that was a very unusual place to see Karen's name. |
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Post by Moe on Nov 15, 2003 1:45:26 GMT -5
I don't know if the Carpenters' music has helped shape who I am today, but it surely helped me when I was growing up. I was an introvert and didn't seem to fit in anywhere...at home, church, or school. Maybe that is why I could relate to Karen's lyric and voice. "Rainy Days," "Goodbye to Love," "I need to be in love," "I can't make music," and "Solitaire" have always been favorites. Karen always seemed to sing from her soul, especially on the sadder/more introspective songs. Even though I've grown up and have a wonderful wife and son, I still connect with these songs.
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Post by cam83 on Nov 15, 2003 4:50:08 GMT -5
oh Moe,
I can relate. I used to be an introvert, but now I am an extravert...I am now capable of being open and outgoing because of Karen. I used to be shy and quiet. Now I am just myself and happy to be who I am. To be able to be lively, accomodating and free is who I am. I used to think how people would percieve me and now I let myself be me. I know that Karen and Richard, especially knew that gay people were also attracted to their brand of classy music...(I mean gay people like myself have ears too you know...;-) )and that says alot about Karen. She accepted people as people. That we all have bad days, sad days, hurting days and top of the world days...he he he...And yes, we've just begun to LIVE......(that's the important thing...to live....and we're on our way...and yes, we've just begun)...
My rambled thoughts,
Cameron
PS. Sorry if i don't make any sense
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 16, 2003 1:20:31 GMT -5
Cam I admire your courage to be who you are, and your strength to have overcome the many adversities you've faced in this life. Cheers to you Cam. Moe. sounds like you have a great life. Is your son a toddler or grown up? Here are a few interesting places I've found Karen mentioned. This just adds to the diversity of the scope of the Carpenters. The first is an interview withGene Simmons (from the rock group Kiss), Karen is mentioned at the end of the article: www.kissalive.com/kiss/goldmine_gene.htmlThe next is a sermon by Rev. Linda Jaymes. She mentions Karen in the fourth paragraph. www.olivetcovenant.com/BECAUSE_OF_YOUR_WORDS.html |
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Post by smoothie2 on Nov 16, 2003 21:22:28 GMT -5
hi everybody...this is an interesting thread of thoughts Rick has come up with. I also can relate with Moe and Cam, as far as how the Carps music influenced me. I have always especially in hi sch. been an introvert. In growing up, those songs Moe mentioned really touched me, because even though I come from a happy home, basically, I was really an outsider in hi sch. If it had not been for at least one or two close friends, life would have surely been dull, and I would have harbored much more resentment than I did.
It is really great for you Cam to be able to be who you are no matter what others might think. I would not ever have quite that much strength to freely express my feelings as you have done. No, I'm not gay, but you must be truly happy to express who you are.
smoothie
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Mar 23, 2007 18:46:24 GMT -5
Something old... something new...
Wow! It is interesting to note that for those of us who are reading the postings that were made long before we joined the the forum, that there are wonderful personal histories to be found among the discussion threads.
I enjoy the diverse viewpoints and backgrounds of the members here --- as functions of different personalities, nationalities, genders, ages, belief systems, orientations, life experiences, cultures, opinions and musical tastes (including and beyond the Carpenters), etc.
I like the surprisingly candid viewpoint that Rick expressed to initiate this thread and those who responded. At various other times, Rick even invited and welcomed a little controversy for discussion. Certainly, if we were all of the same exact mind, then there would not be much point in having a forum at all, and there would be no growth and learning from each other...
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Mar 23, 2007 20:51:04 GMT -5
Something old... something new... Wow! It is interesting to note that for those of us who are reading the postings that were made long before we joined the the forum, that there are wonderful personal histories to be found among the discussion threads. I enjoy the diverse viewpoints and backgrounds of the members here --- as functions of different personalities, nationalities, genders, ages, belief systems, orientations, life experiences, cultures, opinions and musical tastes (including and beyond the Carpenters), etc. I like the surprisingly candid viewpoint that Rick expressed to initiate this thread and those who responded. At various other times, Rick even invited and welcomed a little controversy for discussion. Certainly, if we were all of the same exact mind, then there would not be much point in having a forum at all, and there would be no growth and learning from each other... Good one, Dreams....yes, we've had some relatively "hot" discussions on this board...in fact, we had, at one time, relegated those dicussions to a thread entitled "Too Hot To Handle" that was password protected. I don't know what ever happened to that thread...forgot about it until just now, yet I did post in it a couple of times. We had MUCH discussion and many varied opinions were shared - not agreed with, necessarily, but certainly shared. Insofar as this thread, I have once again learned something about some of the forum members I've been sharing with for some 3 years, now. Interestingly, I seemed to have, perhaps, opened up about some of these same things from the get-go! I've never made it a secret that I was touched by this duo. As I read through this thread, though, I found an interesting commonality....the music of the Carpenters - the voice of Karen....the music created by Richard...it helped everyone at one time or another. It touched someone somehow - Rick states he realized a lot of things about his personality, and they changed....Katt (Smoothie), Cam, Moe -all of them were so touched by the beauty of the lyrics and the music that they felt somewhat "nurtured and loved and certainly understood." (my words, not theirs). And my thought is, didn't we all? Didn't each of us, at some point, dig the music and/or the lyrics - the voice, or the voices - the phrase, or the story, and somehow relate to it? This truly irkes me about what Carpenters were up against at the time: the irony of this whole thing is that YES, we did. And, this was the same identical reason (well, part of the reason) that they were so made fun of - because of the syrupy lyrics (as they were called) and the goody-two-shoes siblings who were making the music. Irony at it's finest. And here, I believe, those of us on this forum merely represent the millions of other fans whose lives were touched in the exact same ways as ours were...by these two kids from Downey. Great find. Okay, my soapbox is gone.....Thanks for bringing this thread around Dreams. I had never read it before. Tim  |
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Post by GoodOldDreams on Mar 24, 2007 1:43:37 GMT -5
...all of them were so touched by the beauty of the lyrics and the music that they felt somewhat "nurtured and loved and certainly understood"...Didn't each of us, at some point, dig the music and/or the lyrics - the voice, or the voices - the phrase, or the story, and somehow relate to it? This truly irkes me about what Carpenters were up against at the time: the irony of this whole thing is that YES, we did. And, this was the same identical reason (well, part of the reason) that they were so made fun of - because of the syrupy lyrics (as they were called) and the goody-two-shoes siblings who were making the music. Irony at it's finest... In the BBC documentary "Close to You: Story of the Carpenters," Paul Williams said that "We've Only Just Begun" is the probably as close to "greeting card" lyrics as any hit he has ever written --- acknowledging it's not exactly Keats. On the PBS documentary "Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters," he countered critics who labeled the Carpenters as "vanilla" by saying what an exquisite flavor it is, and how Carpenters made great records and breathed life into their songs. It is interesting to see how Carpenters' music has appealed to many people across generational and cultural lines, not an easy feat especially during those turbulent times. Definitely we feel nurtured and loved and understood by the beauty of the lyrics and the music. |
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makapipi
CERTIFIED GOLD MEMBER
Posts: 172
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Post by makapipi on Mar 25, 2007 1:19:06 GMT -5
Karen's voice is so darn genuine, sincere and kind it's bound to bring out the best in anyone and make them feel good.
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:)Very special sentiments! Life is about learning as we grow and growing as we learn in everything. As far as myself, I guess I fit in more with Cam in that I was brought up to care for others no matter what, but just be aware that there are dangerous people who do not care about anyone and will seriously go out of their way to hurt us, either physically, mentally, with words or etc.
