Dr. Brown's shirt

[Neenie]

Hi Twigsnapper, Did you ever see Dr Brown wear his favorite red plaid wool Pendleton shirt? Mrs. Brown insisted he get rid of it after decades of use. Patrick has now been wearing it for 30+ years. It still looks new. Wonder if Dr. Brown dipped it in a solution of longevity? Alas, Patrick is keeping it. Neenie

[twigsnapper]

Of course. I believe that his son Joseph gave that shirt to him ... oh, must have been in the early sixties. I guess Joseph lived somewhere near the Pendleton Mill or was in that vacinity. Dr. Brown loved that shirt for sure because it kept him warm. Amazing that you still have it, after all these years and it is in good shape (?) still. A wonder! Perhaps a token.

Dr. Brown was like that. He'd find something he really liked and then he'd wear it until it practically fell off him, or Josephine told him he just couldn't wear it in her presence any more! So nice to hear from you Neenie.Nice to know that something he liked so much is still out there! Twigsnapper

[Victoria Steele]

Hi Neenie! I can always count on you for the most charming and personable posts. Really you give us an amazing insight into Dr. Browns character and human traits! My Dad was the same way ..... he had this brown cord jacket. I think they still call them " Barn" Jackets. He loved that old thing. Had it the year I was born (not going to tell you how long ago that was )...... but was still wearing it some thirty years later. When he said his jacket was old enough to vote everybody laughed but he meant it.

And hello Mr. Twigsnapper. I can tell the way that you respond to Neenie that you think she is a charming personality and I agree with you. I wish I could have met Dr. Brown too .... I dunno though .... I don't think he could get me to eat cows tongue either. I grew up around cattle in Texas .... somehow the visual is just ..... too much ......

But Mr. Twigsnapper, you said something VERY interesting. You mentioned that DR. Brown had that jacket in the early sixties? Which means that your association with him continued after that trip to Europe and France in 1955-56?.

Can you tell us when you FIRST met Townsend Brown and under what circumstances? I ask that but somehow I already know that your answer is not going to be revealing. When you first started posting you said that Dr. Brown taught you alot about courage. Anything you can say about that?

Victoria.

[twigsnapper]

Neenie and Victoria

You know the full story of exceptional men should be told by writers who have the ability to capture all of that accurately. I leave it to Paul to comment on Dr. Browns bravery. He has much to write about.

Neenie, I have a feeling that I was close to your husbands age when I first met Townsend Brown. I was military, he was not. Much more than that I can't really say. I did mention though that he taught me alot about bravery and compassion and hope for the future. I find it endearing that Pat is still wearing that shirt. Sort of keeps the flame burning.

Victoria, I hope the above satisfies your questions. Paul has information that he will either blend into the book, or will not. Its really up to him. Thanks for being interested anyway. Old men like this kind of attention you know.

Twigsnapper

[Neenie]

Greetings Twigsnapper
Patrick was 21 when he met Dr. Brown and was awarded the shirt shortly afterwards. Think Mrs Brown saw a way to get rid of a shirt that jiust wouldn't leave. Actually, it looks brand new. Sewed a couple of moth holes, but it does look great - not faded at all! Scary!!! Noreen

[Neenie]

Oh and Twigsnapper, love the saying: age wrinkles the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. See, you're ageless! Neenie

[Madison]

Neenie, this is a question for both you and Patrick and really what I am asking here is just your impression of the characters of Dr. and Mrs. Brown.

On another section of the forum the discussion has been going on regarding people who enter secret, covert type lives .... and how much they do tell (or don't tell ) their wives and families. It looks like Dr. Brown was into some pretty secret stuff, do you think there was the possibility that he might have shared any of those thoughts with Mrs. Brown. Did she ever say why it was alright for her to be moved so many times? Did she ever tell you about any kind of friction between them over the constant moving? Baraging you with questions, I am sorry but there is so much out there that plain doesn't make any sense!

Something must have changed a little because it looks like they stayed in Avalon for several years and that had to be a first! I think it was Patrick that said that Mrs. Brown was the frugal one and Dr. Brown was the one who wanted to go off to Hawaii (?) and you said her response was ...." No, you are not going!" Did he still go I wonder? And after all of those years of travel .... what happened differently there on the island for her to put her foot down like that? Mysteries! Anyway. Reading your responses is always a fun experience. Who else would know about Dr. Brown and his beloved shirt! thanks Neenie. Madison

[Neenie]

Hi Madison, Mrs. Brown never mentioned all the moves. Patrick said the Brown,s finances were strained with the start up of the mirrtor company, so he did not go to Hawaii at that time. Mrs. Brown might have wanted to stay planted because of Linda & Jennifer moving over to the Island? She mentioned all the schools she went to. Great way not to have to see people you don't like! Neenie

[Neenie]

Hi Victoria, You would have loved Catalina Island in the early 70's!
It was only full of tourists in the summertime. Winter was so peaceful. Dr. Brown seemed happy about the start of the new mirror company. Got down when he was being mislead. Mrs. Brown seemed to "ground" him. You would not have been made to eat cow's tongue to earn his approval! Neenie

[Elizabeth Helen Drake]

Neenie .... I loved your saying about age wrinking skin maybe but loss of enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. And I so agree with you!!!!

From what I have seen Dr. Brown and Mrs. Brown had no lack of enthusiasm for the life that they were living! I am still amazed at the bountiful energy and enthusiasm that Mrs. Brown reportedly put into everything she did. Patrick mentioned her smile and laughter and considering what we have recently learned about the dangers of their life living on the edge of so many secrets, its amazing to me that she could mantain that kind of faith in the future!

I was just looking over another post where Mr. Twigsnapper commented on the fact that he was an "armed escort" for Dr. Brown. Can you imagine having to move so constantly .....AND ALSO HAVE TO GET USED TO THE COMPANY OF ARMED MEN. AND STILL BE ABLE TO BE HAPPY. Now that takes a very special couple. And it shows me that they both had passion for what they were doing, even though I think that Jospehine might have been spared from some of the most worrisome aspects of it.
.
Those years in the seventies must have been wonderful. People have said now that the little town is busy with cruise ships docking and the increased flow of tourists, but in the seventies I can picture that it was a perfect place to raise a child. Maybe, knowing that his daughter and grand daughter would be joining them on the island, maybe that was one of the reasons that Dr. Brown picked the place. I have gotten the impression that he probably could have gone most anywhere, so maybe he chose a safe place for his extended family too?

Always nice to see your posts Neenie! Paul is still paddling around out there ..... face to face probably with the fish that would have eaten the pea.... if it had been given the chance! Elizabeth

[Neenie]

Hi Elizabeth, The era was magical. Dr. & Mrs. Brown created a haven for Patrick and myself. Can you imagine charging Patrickonly $10.00 a month to live at the bird park?!! They never treated us like hired help. They even let us use the golf cart to haul up supplies. Loved Mrs. Browns deep laugh and Dr. Browns chuckle, They were well matched. Mrs. Brown seemed to keep Dr, Brown grounded when she was around. It is a suprise to learn the depth of the man's personality. Neenie

[Mark Culpepper]

Hi Neenie,

You might remember that I am the retired (most of the time) school teacher so most of my interest in this story centers around seeing how Dr. Brown and Mrs Brown affected the young people around them and I think that you and Pattrick must have impressed the Browns. Obviously they led a pretty reclusive life as far as friends, so for them to open their hearts hearts to you too reflects well on your characters, I would think. I think he probably saw the future in you guys and wanted to help you get there.

Neenie, did you notice how many visits your other post has generated? The most popular one on the whole forum! Mark C.

[Neenie]

Greetings Mark, Think the Brown's were amused at the nativity level I seemed to functioned at. Think the outlook lightened the seriousness of their own journey. Neenie

[Elizabeth Helen Drake]

Since Sunday is the anniversary of Dr. Browns birth ( he would have been 102 this year!) I thought it sort of touching and appropriate to bring this particular thread to the top of the discussion for just a little.

It was posted by Neenie. And the discussion is a red and black checkerboard ( lumberjack plaid mayber they called it? I hope you all can picture it) wool shirt that belonged to Dr. Brown and then was given to Neenies husband Pat by Josephine Brown. Pat still has ( and wears) that shirt.

Stop what you are doing for a moment, if you can, and take a little sentimental trip as really only Neenie can begin for us! Elizabeth