If you were able to meet Karen today..

[beaner]

If Karen had not passed away and you had an opportunity to meet her in person, what would you do or say???

Being older now I can honestly say I would still be nervous but I would definitely go up to her and say hello, and if she wouldn't terribly mind but I would love for her to give me her autograph and to tell her how very much her music has meant to me for the last 32 years. I would not push or pressure, I would be kind and polite and take it from there.

Had this been 32 years ago, I would have probably chickened out. Then again, maybe not cause I did go to the Newville Ave. out and ring the doorbell when I visited CA in 1984.

In my mind, I have met her over and over. I would do the same for Richard if I ever had the chance to meet him.

[cam83]

Interesting topic Beaner!
Well even though I am a bit shy. When I get to know someone I would blossom like a flower. SO although I may be a bit nervous meeting her, I would bring allmy memorabelia to her, and go thru it with her and get her thoughts about photo sessions, fave songs, tv appearances, what it was like to be friends and acquaintances with the very famous. I would prob take her for coffee and we would chat like old friends. And she would prob understand I am one of her biggest fans. When I was younger I did make several CARPENTERS comics on their life, and even sent one to the fan club.

Cam

[Rick Henry]

Hi Cam, I would someday like to see one of your Carpenters comics if you still have them around.

If I were to meet Karen, I would probably take her to lunch, maybe a place like Knowlwood (that a 50's style hamburger diner - they play oldies - they have a few pool tables - and video games - it's a fun place). I would let her know how much I adore her music and make small talk with her about life and things we've each seen and done. If I were to meet her I would want to make friends with her and possibly get together again. Once just wouldn't be enough.

[ThomB]

Oh wow, I would probably start hyper-ventilating and get so nervous and not be able to say a word. But really I would ask for her autograph on her solo album.

[Dave]

So many possibilities, so little time. I had all afternoon to think about a good answer, and for me it would all depend upon the situation. In August 1983 I was leaving Zagreb, Croatia and met Judd Hirsch ("Taxi", "Independence Day") in the airport restaurant. I recognized him, and said to my buddies "That's Judd Hirsch,", and he said "That's Mr. Hirsch to you, pal!" Well, I was on the way home after 26 days away from home, and had just pulled an all-nighter, and I was tired. I kinda remember dropping an F-bomb on my way out. But to be fair, he was on the way in, and it is a long flight. Had it been Karen, I never would have been snippy, and would have just shut up if she blew me off with "It's Miss Carpenter to you, pal!" Somehow, I don't think that she would've done that to me. She would have thought of me as a friend, and been curious as to how someone 6000 miles away in a Socialist country knew who she was.
Fast-forward to June 25, 2004. If I even recognized who she was (assuming that her music career had slowed way down or had ended) I would be nice to her, and then after I figured out who she was (the brain doesn't work too fast the older I get) I would probably revert to age 20 or so and say something stupid. After all, Karen's 54 and I'm 49. I'm sure that she would get a charge out having that effect on an old guy. But if she was here in Pittsburgh and had gotten lost, I'd just do what Pittsburghers have done for lost out-of-towners for many years: take her wherever she needed to go. But then the right seat in my Dakota would become sort of a shrine...my wife wouldn't understand.
For actually ringing Karen's doorbell, I hereby present you the Moxie Award! You got it, kid! In the last year, I've spoken with admirals, generals, astronauts, and physicists. I've even gotten a letter of thanks from NASA for supporting the manned spaceflight program. I'd trade it all to have been in your shoes that evening.

[Rob813]

What a great question. Actually I had the honor of shaking Karen's hand at a concert of theirs I attended way back in 1977. I only wish I had had the opportunity to speak with her. If I met her today, I think I would tell her much her music has meant to me all these years. I would also tell her that her fight with anorexia (and her decision to "go public" with it) was a great inspiration to me - and how glad I am that she hadn't died from it. I'm sure I'd ask her about her family. If only this could be.............

[Will]

This is a great question.

I'd want to talk to her about something she's currently interested in but not tired of talking about.

I'd also want to talk to her about drumming (as I used to play myself.)

[Moe]

I would probably just shake her hand and say "hello" and say what a big fan I was and it is an honor to meet her. If I knew that I was going to run into her, I would probably take a copy of my Horizon LP for her to sign.

[enigma]

That would depend on the situation for me as well. If she had the time or desire to talk with me at length I would love to get to know her better and possibly strike up a friendship if she was receptive to the idea ( this scenerio would likely be a long shot though}. In a more realistic situation I would definately be nervous but I would approach her and see what happens from there; if there was any indication I was bothering her I would probably just get an autograph tell her how much I loved listening to her music and leave it at that. It would still be awsome to see her in person and meet her.

[JIM]

This is a question that I think
about a lot. I am glad it was
posted. If I met Karen today, she
would be 54 and the events in her
life would be completely different.
I would introduce myself and ask
her if she had a few minutes to
tell me about her fantastic talent.
Then I would tell her how much joy
she has given me thru her music.
Another dream I have is having the
a way to travel back in time to
1968. I would take all of there
albums, biographies and anything
else that would outline there
life. Of course if I met them in 68
and presented there history to them
they would be quite shocked but
with this information they could
avoid all of the mistakes in there
life. Today we would still have
Karen and tons of great music by
the greatest singer in the world.
I know this story is way out but
thats my dream.
JIM

[John in Phoenix]

What a great post !

I too have given this much thought over the years since we all lost our Karen. I find that I would probably find myself forewarning Karen about the tremendous danger of Anorexia and how devastated the world would be if she were to die as a result of this awful disease. I'm sure she would probably tell me that I was worrying for nothing and to stay off her back and mind my own business. *Oops*

Or -

I would simply ask her if she would allow me the opportunity to thank her for all of the marvelous music and satisfaction that she and Richard have given me all of these long years and give her a solid 'thumbs up' for her foray into the solo album and to stick to her guns and push it out on to the market in spite of the labels desire to shelf the project.

Oh well. These are all 'what if's' of course but I know that we all daydream about how things would have turned out had she lived her life to it's natural end as opposed to the abrubt ending of her incredible journey through life.

I also would like to add to all of you wonderful fans that I THANK YOU for having this forum available for all of us to come together and share our joy and friendship as well as our love of the Carpenters. I can only hope that Richard is leading a fulfilling life now despite not having Karen around to play with his children and enjoy being a sister-in-law and Aunt to his wonderful family.

That's my two cents for whatever it's worth ! Happy Sunday to all of you terrific people !

- John in Phoenix

JGH said:

This is a question that I think
about a lot. I am glad it was
posted. If I met Karen today, she
would be 54 and the events in her
life would be completely different.
I would introduce myself and ask
her if she had a few minutes to
tell me about her fantastic talent.
Then I would tell her how much joy
she has given me thru her music.
Another dream I have is having the
a way to travel back in time to
1968. I would take all of there
albums, biographies and anything
else that would outline there
life. Of course if I met them in 68
and presented there history to them
they would be quite shocked but
with this information they could
avoid all of the mistakes in there
life. Today we would still have
Karen and tons of great music by
the greatest singer in the world.
I know this story is way out but
thats my dream.
JIM

[BethMosior]

I think that I would just say thanx for everything that you have done and then talk about drums, hats, music, baseball, jokes that she likes, race cars, stuffed animals, her dogs, etc........ and that she has had a hand in saving my life and that she and Richard are greatly loved by me and I think by countless others all over the world

[Superstargal]

Great topic!

If I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Karen, I would give her a big hug and tell her what a positive impression her and Richard's music has made in my life, and what a wonderful person I think she is. I would probably tell her about my days as a child growing up with my parents' vinyls of "Now And Then" and "The Singles 1969-1973" and their 8-track of "Close To You." I would love have lunch with her and talk about how inspiring she is in so many ways, what The Carpenters songs mean to me, and just life in general. And I'd probably ask her to autograph my CD's!!

[smoothie2]

a very Loaded question....if there was time, I'd love to just chat w/ her and tell her how very much of a fan I am of her ...and ask her about some of the songs she sang and ones she hoped to sing. I'd definitely want her autograph of course too.