True Love Ways

[Beep]

Hi, Beep! You really created a wonderful and welcome stir on the board! Not only a dancer and

musician, but you're beautiful as well!!! (I'm sure you will cross paths with the Harmons/Nelsons

someday soon--talented people eventually connect!)

Yes, Julia, *I* loved the Nelsons waist-length blonde hair too!!! (We seem to be attracted to the

same things!) I loved Eric's hair, short and long,

brown and blond too, (but I remember how debated

THAT subject became--see thread entitled "Eric's

Hair")

Anyway, I think Beep will certainly light up the

board a lot with a great personality, warmth and

sense of humor!

--Darlene

Where'd everybody go?? Darlene, I forgot to THANK YOU for saying that I'm beautiful! (GOOD photographer!!) **g** I just hope I didn't create a BAD stir, though, and run people away from their computers, screaming!!

I was flipping through the channels and heard Dolly Parton singing Collective Soul's "Shine!" It was actually good; very interesting how they worked a steel, mandolin, fiddle, etc. into it! I've never heard ANYONE but Collective Soul attempt any of their songs (Ed Roland wrote "Shine"), except for karoake dreamers!

A drummer friend of mine started his own karoake thing, and I always made him sing "Almost Paradise" with me! I LOVE that song! (I looked like Nancy Wilson and not Ann, though, when I was the "chick singer"/keyboard player with a local band. I so cannot believe that I wore PURPLE SPANDEX!! AAAuuuggghhhh!!)

Oh! Oh! Question! How many chick singers does it take to change a lightbulb? One. She just stands and holds it and the WHOLE WORLD REVOLVES AROUND HER!! LOL! Dang, I hope I never came across like that! (I don't think I did. I was humbled by dragging around keyboards, amps, stands -- I was too busy being tired to be a diva! LOL!!)

Sorry I'm talking so much; I have been up all night, thinking I must be horribly ill. Turns out Bob left a car battery charging on "Quick Charge" all night long, and I was inhaling battery acid vapors all night. UGH! (Nasty smell; it gets in your mouth and you actually TASTE it!!)

Okay. I am shutting up now. Somebody yell at me to shut up, okay??

I'm gonna try to sleep again. Wish me luck??

[darlene]

Beep, If you ever want to try to get rid of pain

and get happy at the same time, try listening to

Raspberries or Eric albums/cds--especially beautiful

ballads. They work for me! I get migraine headaches, and I just lie down in a dark room and

put the CD player on softly...Not only does it relieve the pain, it always lifts my mood.

Try some of the beautiful songs from Winter Dreams. You'll drift off to sleep like a baby...

--Darlene

[Julie]

--Julie

[Beep]

Beep, If you ever want to try to get rid of pain

and get happy at the same time, try listening to

Raspberries or Eric albums/cds--especially beautiful

ballads. They work for me! I get migraine headaches, and I just lie down in a dark room and

put the CD player on softly...Not only does it relieve the pain, it always lifts my mood.

Try some of the beautiful songs from Winter Dreams. You'll drift off to sleep like a baby...

--Darlene

Thanks Darlene! I've tried everything else. . . . It could work! (I generally use Smetana's "The Moldau" for things like that, and Vivaldi, and George Winston.) I'll be straight up with you -- although I've apparently been an Eric Carmen fan for years, I just found out about it recently! I don't have much of his music; only what I've gotten in compilations and such. But I lurked on this board and not only did you all intrigue me, but you got me really involved with Eric's work, by your words alone, and I really want to hear more!

What I know of his work, his art -- well, I already adore that! Take "Almost Paradise" for instance. I don't know how the rest of you feel about the song, but me, I love it. It's a real vocal experience, singing it! Some of my best memories are being onstage with the right male duet partner (not just karaoke!), and feeling the music build inside you. . . . The pianissimo building into crescendo, the FEEL of owning the harmonies, and letting that feeling fill you up -- it's like a, well, a vocal "organism!" **g** It truly is. There is nothing like the feel of sticking the harmony, and feeling half of the duet coming from your entire body. . . . Maybe it sounds silly, but it's like a ying/yang experience. You just feel like, well, the most important thing in the world is letting that song just wash over you and take you out for a ride on the waves! It's awesome. Getting a perfect harmony going ALWAYS feels wonderful, but on that song in particular -- it's more than harmony, more than the music; it's feeling like you're part of the universe, and like your duet partner is there with you, and feeling like the universe knows you're there too. . . . Does that sound stupid??

I'll have to wait until next month before I can afford to buy any of EC's CDs. Money is more than tight now. My "family" abandoned me when I became disabled. Physically, emotionally, financially -- they disappeared. They left Bob to take care of me. It wasn't his job. Yet he's sold off his entire financial portfolio to take care of MY medical expenses and such that aren't covered by Medicare and TennCare. He didn't have to do that. But he cared about me, and he did it. One of the last thing I heard from my RN/ordained minister mother was that they "didn't ask Bob to do that." And with that, they washed their hands of any support of any kind. The lack of emotional support has been what has hurt the most. For forty years, I thought I had a family. In the past few months, especially, I've found out -- most abruptly -- that I don't have one now, and probably never really did. The emotional pain has been crippling. The same mother who is an RN and an ordained minister hasn't cared enough to even come SEE me (we all live in Nashville) in years. She's also refused to help, claiming to be broke -- all the while, spending at LEAST $750 per month, every month, on Steiff bears from eBay! (I know her eBay ID, and I've looked at what she's been doing. It hurts. A lot.)

She told me that my published work has been a fluke, and said that I wasn't a REAL writer. I just "lucked out," you see. . . . The Mandrell album cut was "all Keith," according to her. It wasn't. The title, the concept, the words -- they were all mine. She was the one who really helped me lose faith in my own abilities. She all but called me a "no-talent ne'er do well." The last time I set foot in their house, I looked for copies of the books with my work in them. There wasn't a single one. So -- I asked. My mother claimed that they bought one copy of one book, and she loaned it "or something." She didn't have a clue where it was. Nice, huh? When I called one of my sisters and told her how hurt I was, she swore up and down that she had SEEN my books at their house. Both sisters listen to my mother's rantings, and don't bother to ask for my side of things. Ever. Then Lacey swore that my parents had ALL of my books, and I told her that mother ADMITTED that they, indeed, DID NOT. My sister couldn't defend them any longer on that point. She got caught in her one-sided bias, and hung up on me! My other sister reacted in much the same way. They were too busy "defending" my mother from her "cruel, horrible daughter" to worry about the truth. And that's when I lost what was left of any notion of my "family." It shook me to my very core.

Crap -- I'm crying again! I'll end here. I don't mean to unload on all of you. I hope you understand??

Anyway, Darlene, when I am able to afford it, which CD would you suggest I start with? I need something soothing, but also up-tempo songs to brighten my mood! I'd really value your suggestions!! Thank you for listening to me! I appreciate it. I really do.

God bless,

Sharon

[marvin]

Beep your posts are very touching and informative. I wish you much faith through your struggles.

MARVIN

P.S. Don't think that listening to "Winter Dreams" will bring on peaceful, relaxing feelings. IMO it is more likely to induce nausea and put you to sleep

[Beep]

Bless you, Marvin! I feel selfish, pouring my guts out on all of you -- especially so soon. But I feel like a hypocrite just typing along like all is right with the world. . . . I'm sure things will get better, eventually. It's just terribly difficult right now.

The "Oh My God" revelation about my whole "family" just happened about six weeks ago. I cried constantly, and felt -- desperate. But then I asked Bob if we could go to Galva, my hometown that I was pulled from the summer that I turned thirteen. Bad timing for me back then, and it was disastrous. Completely disastrous.

I stayed with my aunt and uncle (Bob had to come back to gigs and caring for his mother; she has second-stage dementia, and is in assisted living -- Bob has his hands full), and saw my cousins and other family, as well as friends. I was up there for nearly two weeks, and I loved it. I felt -- almost free! It was wonderful. But I couldn't stay forever. Bob missed me -- thank God -- and I came back here with him. The only other alternative was a nursing home. At the ripe old age of forty.

I have an offer from a publisher for me to write my autobiography. My parents have already threatened to sue if I "make (them) look bad" (in other words, if I tell the truth). Same deal with requests for interviews, etc. I could use the money from a book. None of my life has been boring; the problem would be deciding what to cut so it's not so long. I also want to make it a positive reading experience about how to deal with bad experiences and not lose your faith or your self-esteem. But first, I have to walk the walk myself. You know?? I'm still struggling with that.

I just did an interview with The Galva News (my hometown newspaper). (I made the subject of my immediate family off-limits.) My aunt and uncle, and the rest of their family, are absolutely wonderful! They are the only family I have anymore, but they're good people! I wondered; I had thought that I was adopted! But I discovered that my aunt and I are very much alike. We're like "soul sisters!" It was great!

It's going to be a struggle, but I have a strong base in God. Bob is wonderful, and I have my two Bassets; they're also my family now (I am unable to have children, so Piper and Wilson ARE my babies! My fur-babies!). My friends in town abandoned me too, when I got so sick. They can't handle the way I am now, physically. My two best friends are in Minnesota and North Carolina. THEY have been awesome!

Anyway! I got long-winded again -- sorry!! But you guys have been wonderful, and I really hope that we can become internet buddies! I get good "vibes" from you all! God bless each and every one of you!

HUGE Hugs,

Sharon

[marvin]

Beep everyone should have the strength and faith that you seem to have. Life is never easy, but it is the strong ones like yourself who will survive.

Regards,

MARVIN

[Laura]

Beep- Your story has really touched my heart. Consider us part of your family, too. We may be a bit disfunctional at times (especially Tony ) but we're always here.(Sometimes I just lerk too, and laugh at the banter.) As for suggested listening CDs, I think that most of us are fans of "IWas Born to Love You" also known as "Winter Dreams"as that was the Japanese version of the same album. Lots of easy listening/ adult contempary softer music. We also like "Boats Against the Current" but that is only available as a Japanese import, a bit pricey that way. Any EC cd is worth it, even if all you can find is a greatest hits cd. Also, Bernie usually puts MP3's up on the main EC site, and you can get some great music that way.

[kazumi]

Beep, Life is not easy isn't it? But we are here to share the greatest gift from Eric ( his music ) and I hope it makes you feel much better.Anyway,WELCOME on the board.

Take Care

Kazumi

[Beep]

Kazumi, Laura, Marvin, and everybody --

THANK YOU!! You don't know how much your understanding, and your acceptance, means to me! My self-esteem has been put through the wringer lately, and I feel as though I've left "tire tracks" from having my heart dragged around. (You'll find that I write in musical alleghories quite often!! **g**)

Since I've already spilled my guts on the board, I shouldn't fall back into doing that again -- with the possible exception of a LITTLE mini-gut-spilling! LOL! I'll catch myself, and I'll stop, I promise!!

Anyway -- you all have truly touched my heart, and no amount of "thank-yous" feels sufficient. I just hope that you can somehow FEEL my gratitude! (There is a LOT of it!)

God bless you all,

Sharon

(HAPPY Tears!!)