While deleting messages from my Inbox earlier, I found a link to a group of researchers here in the Asheville, NC area and went to their forum and they have a whole slew of eye-witness accounts from the locals about the Brown Mountain Lights:

>"I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT IT HAS HELPED MY SPIRITUALITY AND ALTERED MY IDEAS OF THIS LIFE."

This is from a fellow who grew up in the Boone area and holds a BS and MA and wrote out his story for all to read. I find him credible, because it matches a couple of other stories I have heard. The trick is (if this ever happens to you, is to stay still and see what happens, instead of running for your life!)

He's part of the Alumni at Duke University:

>" OUR INCREDIBLE BROWN M. LIGHTS EXPERIENCE
« on: May 20, 2006, 10:40:45 PM »

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SORRY FOR THE CAPS... IM A POKER TYPER. I HAD COMPLETED THIS AS REQUESTED BY SOMEONE... THEN I FOUND THIS GREAT SITE. I WILL ABIDE BY THE RULES.

I BELIEVES THIS NEEDS TO BE KNOWN.

I WANTED TO RELAY 'OUR' EXPERIENCE WITH THE 'LIGHTS'.

IM A 51 YEAR OLD MALE WITH A WONDERFUL WIFE AND 3 KIDS. I STILL FEEL 18 AND I DONT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TIME... ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, SINCE MY WIFE TO BE LIVED WITH HER MOTHER AND BROTHER IN LENOIR, NC, WE DECIDED ON A FLUKE TO DRIVE UP TO SEE THE B. M. LIGHTS. I HAD BEEN A STUDENT AT ASU IN BOONE AND HAD FINISHED MY BS AND MA DEGREES IN 80. AS THEY SAY, PEOPLE WHO LIVE AT THE BEACH RARELY GO..... WELL I WAS IN SCHOOL FOR 4+ YEARS AND NEVER SKIED MUCH NOR VISITED MANY OF THE ATTRACTIONS IN THE AREA. BUT I WAS ALWAYS AMUSED BY WHAT I HEARD ABOUT THE LIGHTS.

SO, WE ALL PILED INTO THE CAR...ME, MY WIFE, HER BROTHER, HIS GIRLFRIEND, AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW. WE HEADED TO THE PARKWAY ENTRANCE IN LINVILLE. I'M NOT SURE BOUT THE MILE MARKER, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS ABOUT THE 3RD OVERLOOK ON THE RIGHT WHERE WE CHOSE TO STOP AND 'LOOK'.

I REMEMBER THIS SO VIVIDLY. AND BY THE WAY, WE ARE FAR FROM FRUITCAKES... AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS IN THE VIDEO PRODUCTION INDUSTRY AND BEFRIENDED TOMMY FAILE. WE WERE GOING TO DO A REMAKE OF HIS B.M.L. VIDEO SINCE HE WANTED TO SPICE UP THE ONE HE HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY. UNFORTUNATELY MY SCRIPT/STORYBOARD WAS TRASHED SINCE HE BECAME ILL AND PASSED AWAY. HE WAS A GREAT PERSON.

WE STOOD AROUND AND LOOKED AWHILE AND NOTICED HOW VIVID THE MILKY WAY WAS. IT WAS SO VERY CLEAR SINCE THINGS HAD JUST DRIED UP AFTER A LONG RAIN. THE MOON WAS NOT VISIBLE. MY BROTHER I.L. WAS BY MY SIDE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE EDGE OF THE OVERLOOK. I FIRST NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE A FIREFLY...IT DEFIED DIMENSIONS AND TIME. THE LIGHT WAS ON THE HILLS MILES AWAY AND SUDDENLY IT WAS A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY FROM ME... THIS TOOK ONLY SECONDS... WITHOUT ANY SIZE CHANGE. IT WAS TOTALLY QUIET BARRING THE TYPICAL MOUNTAIN SOUNDS.

I REMEMBER REMARKING, "DAMN MIKE, THATS THE BIGGEST LIGHTENING BUG I HAVE EVER SEEN." AND IT WAS FOR A FEW MORE SECONDS. I GUESS I RATIONALIZED WHAT I HAD SEEN AND PASSED IT OFF AS A BUG. IT REMAINED THE SAME SIZE FOR A FEW MORE SECONDS. IT THEN BEGAN ASCENDING TOWARD ME. IT GREW IN SIZE AS IT MOVED. EVERYTHING BECAME SO QUIET. SUDDENLY I REALIZED THAT I WAS ACTUALLY FACE TO FACE WITH A GLOWING LIGHT WHICH WAS IN THE FORM OF A CIRCLE. IT APPEARED TO ME TO BE ABOUT 3+ FEET IN WIDTH AND AN ORANGE GREENISH COLOR. IT WAS WHAT APPEARED TO BE ONLY SEVERAL FEET FROM MY FACE AT EYE LEVEL. IT REMAINED STATIONARY AT THAT POSITION FOR SECONDS. THE BORDERS WERE NOT WELL DEFINED, AS IF THE EDGE BLENDED IN WITH THE DARKNESS...WEIRD.

WHEN I WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION FROM BEING PARALYZED WITH FEAR, I RAN. SO DID ALL THE REST OF MY FAMILY. I DONT BELIEVE WE EVEN SPOKE TILL WE REACHED BOONE. I DO REMEMBER SOMETHING REALLY WEIRD, I HAD A STICK IN MY HAND AND TOSSED IT INTO THE LIGHT. IT IS IF THE LIGHT CONSUMED IT SINCE I HEARD NO SOUNDS OF IT DROPPING... I JUST REMEMBERED THAT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS. IT WAS AS IF THE LIGHT SEALED ITSELF AFTED THE STICK PASSED THOUGH.

WE STILL JOKE ABOUT MY DRIVING AND JUMPING THE CURB; SOMEONE LOCKED THE DOORS IN THE CAR LEAVING POOR MIKE TO RUN ALONG SIDE THE CAR AS HE BEAT ON IT AND SCREAMED FOR SOMEONE TO LET HIM IN. I DONT KNOW HOW, BUT HE DID GET IN. I WAS IN FEAR FOR OUR LIVES. I SIMPLY WANTED TO BE AWAY ASAP!!! AS I SAID WE JOKE, BUT WE ALL FEEL THE EERY FEELING OF HAVING ENCOUNTERED SOMETHING NOT OF THIS WORLD... THERE IS STILL A STRANGENESS WE ALL FEEL AS WE DISCUSS IT; EVEN MIKE'S WIFE (HIS SECOND MARRIAGE) REFUSES TO BELIEVE US... OR IT MAY BE THAT SHE IS ALSO AFRAID.

I HAVE DONE LOTS OF RESEARCH AND I DID FIND ONLY ONE OTHER ENCOUNTER OF THIS TYPE BACK IN THE 20'S. IT WAS NOT BALL LIGHTENING, NOR ANY OTHER 'LOGICAL' EXPLANATION THAT YOU MIGHT PROPOSE. I'VE CHECKED EVERYTHING AND SPENT MANY HOURS DOING SO. I ALSO KNOW THAT IT WAS NOT
SO CALLED 'MASS HALLUCINATION'. THIS LIGHT DID DEFY TIME AND SPACE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN. WE DO KNOW THAT WE SAW IT. BY THE WAY, MY BROTHER IN LAW HAS A DEGREE FROM UNC-CHAPEL HILL.

I HAVE THEORIZED THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PORTAL INTO A PARALLEL UNIVERSE, ETC., ETC., ETC. I DON'T KNOW. I DO KNOW WE ALL EXPERIENCED IT. WE PLAN TO RETURN SOON. IF I ENCOUNTER IT AGAIN, I WILL REMAIN STATIONARY AND 'EXPERIENCE' IT. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHERS. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT IT HAS HELPED MY SPIRITUALITY AND ALTERED MY IDEAS OF THIS LIFE. HOWEVER; I DO HAVE QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT GO UNANSWERED FOREVER.

THANKS FOR READING ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE. IF I CAN HELP IN ANYWAY WITH THE FESTIVAL OR RESEARCH, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

THANKS AGAIN,
RANDY CARVER"

Site is www.speakingofstrange.com