Brown Family and Project Origins

[Victoria Steele]

I realize that Linda Brown is very reclusive (and with this kind of history buzzing around her, who could actually blame her?) but at the same time I realized that much of her Dads story is seen through her eyes ... and we all know next to nothing about her. So I start this post in the hopes that those who perhaps have met Linda or have something to say about her experiences might appreciate this post.

You all know that I think the relationship that Paul has written about between Linda and Morgan is really romantic so of course I center my questions there. I know that this is an ongoing story so much will not come to light until Paul is ready .... but I still have my observations.

I happened to be listening to Jimmy Buffett again. And again the song "Scarlet Begonias" came up and for some reason I associated that song with what Morgan may have thought about Linda ... here I am .... supplying the score for a movie already! But you guys tell me if this lyric doesn't sound strangely appropriate .... ....

"In the thick of the evening when the dealing got rough. She was too pat to open and too cool to bluff. As I picked up my matches and was closing the door ... I had one of those flashes I'd been there before ... been there before ...Well, I ain't always right but I've never been wrong ..... Seldom turns out the way it does in a song. Once in awhile you get shown the light .... in the strangest places if you look at it right .... Well, there ain't anything wrong with the way that she moves, Scarlet Begonias or a touch of the blues .... and theres nothing wrong with the look in her eyes .... I had to learn the hard way to let her pass by ..... let her pass by ........."

Victoria

[Mark Culpepper]

Interesting that you would pick that song because the phrase " Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest places if you look at it right." and it comes to me that is exactly what we have been talking about in most of this forum . Being able to really see what is going on. But thats a matter of perspective and position. .... so its really an appropriate song.

And I have the feeling too that perhaps Linda and Morgan just were never able to make it as a couple .... just because there was so much secrecy between them and probably none of Lindas doing, from what I can gather from the story so far. Being left behind while this Mr. X, Morgan and Dr. Brown go out sailing together. That speaks volumes.

And maybe I know a little about that too. My Dad ended up following his career ... and my Mom just couldn't be on that path. I think there was just one move where she simply said ....." thats it .... I can't do this any more !"..... and so you are right .... I think that the song does apply because if you are in that sort of business .... you have to learn to let people you love .... go ........ "I had to learn the hard way to let her pass by, let her pass by"

Trying to make it also to Vegas in November. Looking forward to meeting everybody. (Especially all the Marks .... we could have our OWN convention huh guys?) Mark C.

[Madison]

Paul and everyone.

I have been trying to catch up with everything that has been said. You guys have been a talkative bunch! But I am amazed at the scope of things!

I was fascinated that Dr. Brown would sort of go on an "intelligence gathering trip" at a local racetrack while he was in England. (I am assuming here that his "career" might have had something to do with that sort of thing from the things that have been said so far in the story.) For him to take his "escort" along with him paints an interesting picture to me. All for the love of a horsecrazy girl. Thats pretty nice of him, really.

So when did Linda start working with her Father in his lab? (For those of you that are newer than even I am to this story........That was one of the first things that Paul said in his book .... that she was his lab assistant. )So can you say yet Paul where that was ? After she went to Southern Seminary, right?

You mentioned that she was working with him while they were in Santa Monica in 1967 and I guess thats when he told her that he was "shutting down". So maybe from 65 to 67 she had been working with him and then he shuts down without any kind of notice or even explaination? What was that like? And what was her reaction? Can anybody answer that? I am getting a little like Victoria. You have created benevolent monsters here Paul! Madison

[grinder]

Paul,

So, Linda Brown didn't contact you to write this book? Did she ever contact ANYONE to write a biography of her Dad? If not, when you showed up did she really understand where all of this was going to go? Or do you think she knew all along and just decided maybe that the time was right?

And that begs the question ..... how much of Dr. Browns activities did she and Mrs. Brown actually know about?

Mark C. has said that his Dad was in the "same business" and that his parents finally split up. Why didn't that happen with the Browns?

And one last question. Having "Charles" there at Ashlawn. if he was some sort of a "bodyguard" or "armed escort" wouldn't that sort of tip off an obviously bright teenaged girl? Did she ever ask her father ...."Hey, Whats going on?" just a few questions simmering on the back burner, hope you can answer them before I have to buy the book off the shelf! grinder

[Madison]

Paul,

In Chapter 3 (A Bitter Pill) you quoted something from Andrew ..... OK .... now I get it ... hi Andrew!

Andrew was running the Townsend Brown site and you contacted him then to ask who spoke for the Townsend Brown Estate. OK. Now I am catching up..............

Anyway you quoted something from Andrew that went sort of like this ......"Being part of the Townsend Brown family has made Linda pretty much of a recluse. The public believes that she was killed some years ago and she prefers that actually" .......This quote was made in 2002 .....

Andrew, can you tell us how that rumor got started and why Linda "preferred it that way?" Was she in some kind of "protective cover" or something strange like that? You have to admit. Thats an odd introduction for such an important person to this story. And following the storyline now I am thinking maybe it would be interesting to know how that rumor got started. Andrew ...... you there? Madison

[Victoria Steele]

Forget the anomalies in the various labs where he worked. Just trying to catch up with learning about the personal anomalies surrounding the Brown family is a real challenge.

They move nearly constantly. 48 schools in ten years. Right folks! They have someone named "Charles" living with them in 1964 ... someone who is obviously taking directions from Dr. Brown and seems to have had a two year involvement.

So, taking Pauls directions to "look at the leaves" I just wonder why the moves, why the "protection" if thats what it was? And the thought just struck me .... Twigsnapper ..... has come forward saying that he was an "escort" for Dr. Brown while he was in France and England. Then its obvious that in 1956 he was under some sort of "protection" too. Were you "military police?" Twigsnapper. Mark seems to think you won't say too much about your participation but I have a sense that maybe you will be kind enough to tell us more?

Victoria

[Chris Knight]

Madison,

I remember when we first heard the "daughter of Townsend Brown is dead" rumour. I think it was in the early to mid-90's.

One of the things that people don't really think about is that the story that Paul is writing is a currently continuing one. I first met Linda in March of 1987, which was only about 1.5 years after Paul's introduction, "Every Cab in Avalon," takes place. Needless to say, it's been a very interesting time since then, because many of the parties involved in Brown's life are still active.

In addition, it's really not just the story of Brown's life. Brown was working on a multi-generational project, which will come out as the story unfolds. If Paul manages more than a "The End...?" at the end of this book, I will be surprised (although I'm sure he will say it much more eloquently.

But anyway, back to the rumour. The fact is that niether of us knew where the runour began. I don't even remember which of us...oh, wait, I think I heard it first. I was talking with someone on the phone, I think, and they said that they thought she was dead. I can't remember who it was - it might have been one of the Bahnson/King group. I don't think Linda had heard it, but she said that she preferred it that way.

She and her family have been able to lead a fairly normal life after a fairly abnormal childhood (and adulthood), and let's face it, if people knew of her whereabouts, she wouldn't have any peace. She keeps up to date on the forums, and I know she is very pleased with the challenging conversations we've been having, but to be honest, whether she'll ever stand out publicly is questionable.

Also remember that she doesn't have all of the answers either. When you grow up in a situation, you really tend not to question the where's and why's. Many of us have a little bit of information or insight that is important to Brown's story - by pooling and linking them together, Paul has been able to build the story of Brown's life (although I'm sure Paul will be the first one to point out that it's not quite as cut and dry as that).

Andrew

[Paul S.]

I start this post in the hopes that those who perhaps have met Linda or have something to say about her experiences might appreciate this post.

Uh, Kids.... I know that Victoria's intentions in starting this thread were entirely benign, but for reasons that are not easy to explain, I'm little uncomfortable talking about Ms. Brown in this fashion. I don't think there's any harm done here, and I think Andrew's last post goes a long way toward addressing some of the questions. But I also think that we need to respect Linda's continuing need to protect her and her family's privacy, and just let her decide when, how, and if -- she wants to be more public in her participation in this process.

I hope that sounds reasonable, because I am going to "lock" this thread from further posts. 'Nuff said, OK?

--PS