Enjoy the last installment, and have a wonderful weekend, y’all!

Me: Do you have any regrets other than not completing the lesson?

Karen: I just think that’s encouragement to come back and do it again.

Me: You can always try summer school!

Karen: Regrets? I think I regret not being aware of my choices. I was making them in a haze. I know I’m coming back and being more aware of the choices I make.

Me: Okay, good! What was your proudest accomplishment while you were in the physical?

Karen: That would have to be my music.

Me: Of course! And do you look back from the spiritual realm and still see that as your proudest achievement?

Karen (messing with her hair again): I think I will!

It’s a shame I can’t relay the bright cheeriness of her voice. Given that she’s talking about a failed lesson and having to come back to earth, it strikes me as so funny.

Me: You sound so lovely and happy! Now, what past life do you think most influenced your last one as Karen Carpenter?

Karen (with a short gasp): Oh, I’ve heard about this question!

Jamie: Who did you hear it from?

Jamie listens.

Jamie (to Erik): Oh, because you made a list of everybody’s name? (to me): Erik has it. (to Erik): I remember now, Erik. You said you were showing people before, showing spirits that they were on the list.

I giggle. My boy, taking initiative!

Me: Erik, you’re like a bouncer at a club behind that red velvet rope checking if people are on the list before they go in. Well, Karen’s on the A List.

Jamie (laughing): That makes her giggle.

Karen: My favorite past life—I was a little African boy who lived in Egypt.

Jamie: Wait. Are people in Egypt not considered African?

Me: I’m pretty sure they are. I mean, technically, it’s part of Africa.

Jamie (chuckling): Just the way she said it made it sound different.

Karen: My parents were from another place. They moved north and into Egypt. So, my skin was much darker and I had more muscle tone and everything. I created games to play and got people to learn to play them, you know, with rocks and sticks and running and hiding and all of these things. I was a really creative kid.

Me: Just like now!

Karen: But I ended up making certain sticks and balls and games for kids to play, selling some and giving away some.

Me: Uh huh.

Karen: It was a really great life. Married young; died young. Not a very long life at all. But it was the joy of the creation, and it was the first time I was able to get together a group of people.

Me: How nice. And how would you say it affected this last life of yours?

Karen: I think I wanted that body back! Muscular, thin—that build.

Me: Athletic, obviously.

Karen (laughing): Americans are not that way!

Me: That’s true! And you loved sports this last lifetime, so—has athletics been a part of many of your lives?

Karen: Congratulations to the Cardinals!

Me: Oh, yeah! That’s right; they won, didn’t they!

Karen: Yes, and to answer your question: Yes.

Me: Okay. Now, from your new perspective, do you have any messages for us? Is there anything else you want humanity to know?

(Long pause)

Jamie (laughing, to Karen): Well, how would you say that in a shorter way? That was a big long thing!

Karen: I would tell the world—

She leans over to Erik, kind of taps him on the knee and says, “Because this is going to the world! The book. They book is going to the world.”

Jamie and I giggle.

Karen: –I would like to give everyone an affirmation to say. “I nurture myself, because I love myself.”

Me: Aw. I like that!

Karen: We need to say it every day in the mirror.

Me: Yeah. That’s awesome! Erik, do you have any questions for Ms. Carpenter.

Erik (to Karen): No offense, but I don’t really have any questions; I have a lunch appointment.

Jamie and I (in unison): With Carl Sagan!

Jamie laughs hard.

Me: Well, thank you, Karen, for your time.

Karen: Oh, thank you. This has been wonderful.

Me: You seem so happy. I love that. It fills my heart with joy!

Karen: Ah, there are so many more things after life!

Me: Yeah.

Karen: Thank you so much for putting this book together.

Me: Okay. Thank you.

Jamie: She waves. It’s one of those cute waves.