Insider Column 30

An insider's look at Townsend...
Chapter Thirty


March 29, 2002

When I was a young kid of twelve or so I carried a friend on my back for several blocks. He had stepped on a nail and it went all the way through his foot. We were both bare-footed. Anyway, I carried him home because it was too painful to walk with a nail sticking through his foot and I was too afraid to pull the nail out. By the time I got Timmy home my back was killing me and the bottom of my feet were raw. The hot Arizona pavement will do that to bare feet. His mother took one look at us and fainted. What I remember best about that day was the feeling of near weightlessness when I put Timmy down. I thought for sure that I would be able to fly away. It was a wonderful feeling. I have never felt quite like that again. Tim was my best friend but it was great getting him off of my back.

For those of you that haven’t read my last Insider’s Column that was posted on the Official Townsend Club site, you may not be aware that this website will be coming down very soon. Sometime early in April, maybe as early as April 3rd, this website will cease to exist. Townsendboys.com will be taken off line. Wendy and I will be supporting Townsend as parents rather than keepers of the website.

Just so you all understand what it means when the site comes down, let me share a few thoughts with you. At least initially, there will be no chat room or message board. There will be no newsletters via email. I asked Sound Management and Townsend if they had any information that they wanted to share with you prior to this site coming down. I haven't received a response. I know that they are working on putting up a new site. I'm sure it will be online soon, at http://townsendmusic.com. So bookmark that address, and keep checking there for the latest, ok? We've offered the guys all of the html and other files that we've created for this site. Wendy has even put the townsendboys.com files on a disk to give to Julie this weekend. The guys may or may not use the files, but they will be given and we feel good about that.

As soon as this site comes down, none of the townsendboys.com email addresses will be valid. That also means that my trex@ address will no longer work. Many of you already know my work email address.

I have always known that many of you have used this website as a place to stay in touch with friends and make new friends. I also realize that this site gave you the feeling that you were part of something good, part of the Townsend family. Which you definitely are. Yeah, I even realize that some of you looked to Wendy and me as if we were parents of the greater Townsend family (the fans and friends of Townsend). I am sure that most of that was because Todd is my son, and being close to Wendy and me was in a strange way like being close to Todd - and feeling close to Todd gave you the feeling of being close to Townsend. Funny how these things work sometimes.

Wednesday I spent hours reading and responding to posts on the message board and emails that I received. Geez, talk about emotional. I really had no idea that the site had such an impact on so many Townsend fans. When I agreed with Todd that it was time for us to step down I thought a great load was going to be lifted from my shoulders. I thought for sure that I would be able to fly away free. I'm finding that it's not that easy for me. It’s okay. Those of you that are true and lasting Townsend fans will find a new way to stay involved and in touch very quickly. We will still get to see each other at concerts and other Townsend events. Who knows, Wendy and I may pop up online occasionally now and then, just for fun:-) And, either Townsend’s new site or one of the fan sites will become the focal point for Townsend.

There is something very important that I don't think you all fully realize and I want you all to know. The site is coming down because that is what Townsend wants, and it's what's right for them at this point in time. Todd knows and Townsend management knows that Wendy and I were prepared to support them as long as they wanted. The only caveat was that we were not taken for granted and that we were kept in the information loop.

Wendy and I got a lot of credit for making this site so successful. But without all of you great Townsend fans, it would never have been a success. I especially want to thank Joy Tamaki because without her this site would have lacked the extremely important fan perspective. I know how much I enjoyed her column and I am sure that others did as well. Joy was able to provide an insight to Townsend that I couldn't. Finally, I have to say again that without all the dedicated Townsend fans, and the friendship that has been shared here, this site would been, well, just another website. Thanks, everyone!

Before I get all melodramatic, I better just say goodbye for now. See ya around.
Bob

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