Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend
Author and veteran journalist Carole Townsend shares remarkable tales from the South, tales of mystery, terror, and wonder. Townsend has built a career on the premise that truth really is stranger than fiction.
Here in the South, we love our stories. We begin in childhood huddled around campfires, whispering of things best spoken in the dark, confiding in our small trusting circles. Why is that, do you suppose? I have researched and investigated Southern history for more than 20 years and I believe it has to do with this region itself. There's a lot that hangs in the ether here and much that is buried deep in the soil. There's beauty here in the South and shame and courage and, make no mistake, there is evil. There's always been the element of the unexplained, the just out of reach that we can all feel but can never quite describe. And the best place for telling tales about such things is the comfort and safety of an old front porch. So I invite you tonight to come up here with me, settle back into a chair and get comfortable, pour yourself a drink if you like, and I'll share with you some of the tales best told in the company of friends, tales that prove that truth really is stranger than fiction, and I'll turn on the light. You're going to want that. I'm Carole Townsend. Welcome to my front porch.
Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend
The Date
Sometimes life throws unexpected curves that temporarily interrupt even our most cherished routines. In this brief but deeply personal episode, I share news that's difficult to deliver—a serious head-on collision has temporarily paused my storytelling.
What began as a promising evening on June 25th—my husband and I heading to a rare midweek date night of dinner and a concert—turned catastrophic in an instant. The accident left me with multiple broken bones in both legs, broken ankles, damaged kneecaps, a broken finger, and four broken ribs. After waking up in the trauma department and enduring three surgeries so far, I'm on a recovery journey that's been challenging but filled with gratitude. My husband, who escaped with relatively minor physical injuries, has become my rock—managing our home, the accident aftermath, his job, and my care with heroic dedication.
Though I attempted to research and prepare a fascinating Mothman legend for this episode, my body and mind signaled they needed rest. My temporary absence isn't about seeking sympathy, but rather honoring my commitment to you—the listeners who deserve thoroughly researched stories and quality delivery. Front Porch Mysteries will never compromise on those standards. I aim to return to the porch with fresh stories in two weeks, and I hope you'll stick with me through this brief hiatus. Your listenership means everything, and as always, you remain the driving force behind every story I share from this Southern porch.
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Good evening listeners, and welcome to Front Porch Mysteries with Carole Townsend. Normally we'd gather again on this porch to share a tale rooted in the South, whether in her forests, her rivers, her mountains or bayous. But tonight I have something different to share with you.
Carole Townsend:On June 25th, my husband and I were driving to a rare midweek date destination. We had planned to go to a nice restaurant followed by a concert we'd been wanting to see for years. On our way to the restaurant, we were involved in a head-on collision. Both of my legs were broken in several places. My ankles were broken, my kneecaps were badly damaged, one of my fingers was broken and four ribs were broken. I went into shock at the scene and woke up in the trauma department of a wonderful local hospital. Since then I've had three surgeries two on my legs and one on my hand. I expect to have two more. My husband escaped with relatively minor injuries, but he's still suffered a great deal as he's taken care of me, our home, the business of such a wreck, his job and more. He's a true hero.
Carole Townsend:I share all of this with you not to garner pity or to make excuses. I share it with you to explain why I will not be sharing a story with you this evening from the front porch. I tried to research, write and record a wonderful legend for you the Mothman. And that's coming.
Carole Townsend:I just realized that my body and my brain needed to rest and recover, just as my legs and ribs needed that time to heal. You have all been so faithful with your listening and it breaks my heart to come to you this evening with this story of sorts. But I believe in thorough research, top-notch writing and excellent delivery to listeners and I will not compromise that. I truly hope you'll continue to tune in, as my goal is to bring another story to the porch in two weeks. A lot has to happen between now and then, but that is my goal.
Carole Townsend:Thank you so much for your kind words and for listening to Front Porch Mysteries. You are the reason that we do what we do. This is Carole Townsend.
