Roy Orbison would have been 76 yesterday on April 23rd.  Happy Belated B-Day Roy.

Your pretty woman

My best girlfriend, Karen, died yesterday at 3:45 in hospice here in Austin.  She had been struggling for several weeks and the cancer overcame her.

Karen was an exurberant, extravagant and excessive lady. 

She loved dressing up and being dramatic about it.  Lots of flowy dresses, excessive jewelry and high heels. She could take a scarf and make it sing on her. She loved purples and reds and blacks. She had panache.

She was a great cook but also enjoyed fine dining at restaurants. I will never forget the evening she arranged for Jim, her significant other's, birthday celebration at Aquarelle, a very upscale establishment here. She had instructed them exactly what was to be served and when and with what wine.  And she was a stickler about food detail.  She had ordered porfiteroles for desert and was anxious that they be just so.  I remember the young skinny waiter being non-plussed when she would ask in her British accent "are they tending the porfiteroles?"

She loved bantering with people and never met anyone who did not interest her in some way.  She also had a unique way of putting people in their places if she thought they were untoward.  She would say with a lilting British accent "Now that is just rude!" and then just laugh.  She had a wonderful laugh, full throated, melodic and her eyes sparkled.

She was very international.  She grew up in Britain and Switzerland, spent most of her marriage in Greece and South Africa and quite a bit of time in Brazil before landing in the States in the great State of Texas.  She loved it here and met the love of her life here, Jim.  They would fuss at each other about this and that, but were so solid.  Whenever I was around them, that Sonny and Cher tune "I Got You Babe" would run through my head.

Her death was peaceful.  She just kind of slipped away.  Jim was there as well as her two lovely daughters and myself.  She was unconscious but I know she felt the love in the room.  We were all telling our special "Karen stories".

I am going to miss you enormously, my Karen.  You will always have a special place in my heart. Love you, babes.

Cat

Anita Baker


With all my heart I love you baby
Stay with me and you will see
My arms will hold you, baby
Never leave, 'cause I believe

[Chorus:]
I'm in love, sweet love
Hear me calling out your name, I feel no shame
I'm in love, sweet love
Don't you ever go away, it'll always be this way

Oh, your heart has called me closer to you
I will be all that you need
Just trust in what we're feeling
Never leave 'cause baby, I believe

[Chorus]

There's no stronger love in this world
Oh, baby no, you're my man, I'm your girl
I'll never go, wait and see, can't be wrong
Don't you know this is where you belong

Oh my sweetest dream how lovely baby
Stay right here, never fear
I will be all that you need
Never leave, 'cause baby, I believe

[Chorus]