Todd Karstens's Page

I have loved Barry and his music as long as I can remember. Whenever I am feeling down, I listen to some Manilow and I feel so much better. I had the lucky opportunity to meet Barry on the Oprah Winfrey show on December 3, 1987. It was the best day of my life, even though Oprah embarassed me in front of 30 million viewers. I wanted to thank Barry for the song I sang to my wife (now-ex) to propose to her (it was "Fools Get Lucky"). I got my chance, on-air, and he was so appreciative of my comment; then O asked me where I was when I first heard "Mandy"--she must have thought I was older than 21--who can remember back to when they were 8 with that much detail? Anyway, I started stuttering because she caught me off guard, Barry was laughing good-naturedly at my nervousness--but Oprah said, "Don't worry. There are only 30 million people watching this"!! I was mortified but still it was the best day EVAH!! During one of the breaks, I got to go up to the stage and give him a Christmas ornament I made. He liked it, and thanked me and shook my hand. My other close encounter with Barry was in March 2005 at LV Hilton show. I got a ticket for the first seat in the front row stage-level on the Dew Drop Inn side. When he came over to sing "See the Show Again", he came right up to me and said, "Hello". I got to shake his hand again! Great moments with the man who got me through so much in my life--my difficult childhood with an abusive stepfather, my difficult teenage years being called gay and fag every single day at school, my divorce, and coming out; my later bouts with depression--Barry helped me through the rain!!