Hi Fans!

The price of fame is a cold meal or no meal at all! This is what Karen and Richard discovered during their June vacation. They were recognized and swamped in every restaurant they entered. Their salad wilted, soup turned cold, dinners got cold and drinks became watery from melting ice while Richard and Karen signed autograph after autograph for waiting fans who offered napkins, menus, coats purses and even arms and legs for signatures.

There is one family they will never forget. During breakfast a family of six spotted them and though the youngsters were eager to go to their table and request their autographs, the mother and father restrained them and marched them out of the restaurant. There they waited until the CARPENTER family finished eating and returned to their car. THEN they got their autographs. Too bad more fans aren't that thoughtful at meal time.

In New Haven, a cousin had planned a party for them. It was to be a small one and they had invited only a handful of close friends. But news travels fast and the small party soon grew to over a hundred people and had to be moved out doors.

At Nathan Hale School where they went to visit two of their former favorite teachers they were swamped by several hundred youngsters.

Visiting an Aunt in Maryland, a neighbor lady called and asked them to "Please step out in your Aunt's back yard so I can sweep down the alley to see you.", which they did. Another - a dog named Lucky delivered to Richard and Karen a request for an autograph - he got it.

In Ocean City, they spent two whole days on the beach without being recognized. The third day they went to a restaurant for dinner and the swamp story continued from then on. They managed to elude fans for a little while one day when they took an early morning bike ride on the little boardwalk. They were recognized, they know, when they saw faces pop out of windows and doors, but they were riding too fast for anyone to catch them.

Because of the constant crowds they couldn't get in much sight-seeing but they did have fun one day catching crabs. I asked Karen how she went about catching them and she replied "very carefully"; we tied chicken on a string, she explained and when they had a good hold we pulled them out of the water very slowly. We got enough for a meal and Mom steamed them but everybody had to crack their own.

They enjoyed being on the East Coast but were glad to get back home to the privacy of their back yard and their swimming pool. (Karen has finally had a chance to swim in it.) During the two days they had off before their Hollywood Bowl Concert (which was a sell out) Karen managed to get a lovely tan while Richard browsed through music stores buying more records to add to his already huge collection.

A number of you have asked what a typical day in the life of the CARPENTERS is like. Next month I'll try to give you an idea of what it is like both home and on the road.

In the meantime, there is good news for all Fan Club Members!!! Beautiful colored CARPENTER posters are now available to Fan Club Members for half price.

More next month

Evelyn

Last changed: Mon May 23 22:19:33 EDT 2005