Lots of people here are talking about how important Karen has become in their lives, and I wanted to share a story about how she helped me, particularly, last April. It was a tough time: We were trying to decide between New York and California colleges for my daughter; the primary battle was still raging and I was getting beaten up in Salon letters and on TV for defending Hillary Clinton's staying in the race; and there were, unbelievably, people who still didn't get the potential of Open Salon.

On a particularly bad day, April 27 to be precise, I got an email with the subject header, "Thank you for Open Salon." It was from Karen, expressing gratitude for what we'd just began to build, and thanking me for modeling the civility in Letters and on TV that she thought would and should be the tone of Open. She also disclosed that her chemotherapy had taken a bad turn, but when I expressed worry, she reassured me. "We are currently only in a state of puzzled," she said. I sent the email around to staff as a way of saying, "Hang in there, everyone, we can do this!"

I was thrilled when Karen started posting on Open, shared her beautiful writing, and found friends and solace. I was grateful, immediately, for Lorraine Berry! Now I thank Lorraine for letting us know about Karen's birthday --51, you've got seven months on me, girl! -- so we can fete her here.

Happy birthday, Karen! We are all here for you.