Update: Karen has been moved! She no longer rests here. Richard decided to move her to a place nearer to his near home and she now rests in a private loation. While this is sad for her fans who wish to leave their respects, I am not about to second-guess Richard's intentions. I am sure he has his reasons and that they are very good ones. May she rest in peace.

This is the mausoleum at Forrest Lawn. The large mural is in the center, and there are wings off to each side. Karen is in the wing to the left.

As you enter the wing on the left-hand side, there are three hallways - one to the left, one to the right, and the other straignt ahead. I don't have to tell you which one (it is the left one) as your heart will immediately skip a beat when you see her crypt at the end of the hallway.

Stepping a little closer, a sense of sadness overcomes you. You know that before you lies the body of the world's finest female vocalist ever - a person whose music and personal charm had such a profound impact on your life and being.

As you get closer, you note the gold lettering of her name, and the appropriate remark -- A Star on Earth - A Star in Heaven. You run your fingers over the letters, and you feel a connection to all of the other fans, friends and family of Karen, who have done this same thing in the past. You gain a sense of connection, as it were, with the entire Carpenter's community.

The first day I visited, this picture of Karen was on the floor, beside the flowers that are shown. I sat down next to them and picked up the picture, and thought of not only Karen's life and her tragic passing, but also about the impact that her life has had on mine. There is hardly a mood that I can experience that does not remind me of a Carpenter's song. Tears filled my eyes as I thought of all this - and how much I miss both her and her music.