I always loved Karen’s silky smooth voice that seemed to flow from her so effortlessly. When she passed away, I was stunned. When I discovered the cause of her death, it saddened me so. But now she’s home and incredibly happy as you will see:
Me: Erik, you haven’t picked anybody for a while. Who would you like us to interview?
Erik: I know you like Karen Carpenter so I ‘ll go get her. That’ll change the feeling in the room!
Me: After Ted Bundy? I guess so! Good idea to follow up with someone lighter!
Erik leaves.
Jamie: She was a singer, right?
Me: Yeah, and I think she died fro complications of anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Karen (as she walks in): Cuz I didn’t wanna eat!
Jamie and I giggle.
Me: Hello, Karen!
Jamie (to Karen): Oh, you are little! Like in all ways, height and everything.
Me: Karen, a lot of blog members wanted me to interview you, because they’re very fond of you. You’re popular in the Channeling Erik family! We miss you since your passing. Are you up for some questions?
Karen: Yes, and thank you so much!
Jamie: She has a great smile, really pretty, thick hair.
Me: Yes she did. Now, Karen, would you mind telling us what sort of beliefs you had about the afterlife before you died?
(Pause)
Jamie: That’s odd.
(Pause)
Jamie (to Karen): Okay, back up then.
Jamie listens some more, and then begins to giggle.
Jamie: Okay, you asked about religion and she gave me sports!
Karen: As a kid, that’s what shaped me. It wasn’t religion that shaped me, because there wasn’t really a belief system in the family. You know, it –
Erik (interrupting): Would you call it more Catholic; would you call it more Jewish–?
Karen: No, you know, maybe like Catholic. It was pretty open. We really didn’t have heavy rules or structured beliefs in our family. We had respect though. Sports were my religion.
Jamie (laughing): Oh, I see what she was saying!
Me: When you crossed over, did your beliefs change at all?
Karen: Oh, they became bigger and better!
Me: Good!
Karen: Yes, so beautiful! You have never felt such love and acceptance. You will LOVE dying; you’ll want to do it again!
Me: Oh gosh! I haven’t heard that one before!
Jamie and Erik both laugh.
Me: Can you tell me about your actual transition—your moment of death?
Karen: I remember my heart was beating so fast, because it was suffering hard. I could feel it in my chest, and then all of a sudden, I didn’t feel it anymore. My thought was, ‘Well, then that calmed down.’ So, I was waiting to feel the beat again, and between that moment and realizing where I was, death occurred.
Me: Wow.
Karen: There were no moments of suffering; there was only a moment of surprise and—
Jamie: Wow, it sounds like she had more of a classic death, because she’s talking about the rallying around of family and friends, other musicians.
Karen: I was so happy to see them. I remember reaching out and hugging them, and I could FEEL them.
I thought of how wonderful it will be to finally be able to feel Erik.
Karen: I realized it wasn’t a dream. And they started explaining to me what had happened. I was very relieved, you know, because I couldn’t settle in to my own body, and to know that it was just over—
Me: Aw.
Karen: Cuz I would never have taken my own life.
Here’s Karen’s last recording. It’s a beautiful song!
