Normal People

"THE IMAGE WE HAVE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR MICKEY MOUSE TO MAINTAIN...WE'RE JUST NORMAL PEOPLE."

--KAREN CARPENTER

As some of you know, I wrote a separate blog entry about her today. Brother and sister Richard and Karen Carpenter made up the 70's duo The Carpenters. With Richard's skills to produce and arrange with multiple tracks and layers of vocals, and Karen's smooth, rich, velvety voice...the two were like gold. They toured the world performing their gorgeous ballads (which have since been used at countless weddings), like "We've Only Just Begun and "Close to You.". In the book, "The Carpenters" by Ray Coleman (authorized), Richard describes helping his younger sister through crowds of screaming fans. He says it was not uncommon for people to have scissors, and they would try to get locks of hair as souvenirs. Underneath it all was a young woman with an eating disorder, and huge insecurities. Outwardly, the Carpenters were clean and wholesome and family oriented, and looked as though they could do no wrong. They looked like they could do no wrong...but I think Karen, herself said it best. (up there). Richard was addicted to Qualudes, and Karen was taking laxatives and starving herself. Karen Carpenter died on February 4th 1983, apparently due to complications of Anorexia Nervosa. It was said that her heart had stopped beating. Her velvety smooth voice will live on forever. I think her untimely death can serve as a reminder that we never really know what's going on under the surface. A seemingly perfect life...can be anything but. An amazing talent who left us way too early...Karen was only 32. BTW...how many girls do know who can both sing AND play drums? :)