Wednesday, July 30, 2014

RUN AWAY RERUN

For some reason this post is not showing up on the blog reader. I really appreciate those of you who stopped by anyway. I am trying to fix it but so far no luck. 

Did you ever runaway from home as a kid??  Were you running away or running to??

My hygienist and I kind of got on this subject recently in a round about way as we discussed her new baby and his older brother which reminded me of a post that I ran in 2009. My only followers at that time-- Judy, Robin and Barry are excused as they were here for the original. 

RUNAWAY

What attracts me to a man today is the same thing that attracted me when I was a 10 year old.  First turn on for me is a kind heart, then sense of humor and finally someone who doesn't have to debate if something is right or wrong, he just knows what is right and does it. 

The movie version of Roy Rogers was just that and everything I read in the movie mags confirmed it. I saw his movies on Saturdays at the 10 cent theater and listen to his radio show every week.  Of course he also had those really sexy squinty eyes along with being a squeaky clean, Dudley Do Right type. I was totally smitten.



There was only one problem with this hero worship. He lived in California and I lived in Key West. I soon came up with the idea that if I could just get to California, all would work out. This was during my peak popular phase so I was quite confident for a mini stalker.   


So the plan was formed, I was going to run away from home. I planned that when I got to his ranch, I would hide in his barn where he would find me and take me in. Simple and brilliant. I never even considered his wife Dale's position. I was all for her keeping the kids though when she moved out.

Now I loved my family very much except for my brother Jimmy. We were so close in age that we fought constantly. Any foul deed I could hang on Jimmy, I tried.  So, out side of Jimmy, there was no reason to leave home other than Roy. I was running to something rather than away from.

It was a different story for my friend Alice. She had a raggedy home life so when she heard of my plan, she readily signed on. She was definitely running away. 


However, we knew we needed money and a ten cent weekly allowance wasn't going to cut it. We set up lemonade stands and also sold coconuts. The tourists thought we were cute and paid the price just to get a picture of those native urchins.  

Our little fortune built to the grand total of $13.82. Surely that would be enough to get us to California, so departure day was set and we quietly packed our pillow cases. 

Now I knew there was only one way to walk off the small island and I decided I had to send my parents looking in the wrong direction or we would never make it. 

So I composed a note blaming Jimmy saying I just couldn't live in the same house with him any more (one last dig).  I threw in that I was going to take the boat to Cuba as a red herring. My Dad had told me that he had done that when he was a kid so I thought he would buy that story. I didn't realize that passenger boats were no longer running to Cuba.

I have no idea why, but we chose to leave in the afternoon. I had my stuff in a pillow case and was toting my BB gun for protection. Alice had a similar pillow case and we set off. We had not gone far when the enormity of what we were doing set in. I was never going to see Mom and Dad ever again which suddenly hurt a lot, though not seeing Jimmy again was still a plus. Even Alice was getting home sick and we weren't a mile from home. Being 10 years old hit home.


Along with the homesickness, I was also getting scared. Suddenly the strangers we saw looked frightening.  Of course everyone was staring at the two children carrying pillow cases, a BB gun and probably my attempt at a sinister evil eye was more laughable than effective.

We were just about to turn around when my Dad drove up and ordered us into the car. He said nothing as he drove Alice home.  Dad was suffering what all parents do in similar situations. He was overwhelming relieved that I was OK yet he really wanted to kill me for the worry I'd caused. 

My mom hugged me till she hurt me and then hugged me some more but I knew even with all the hugging, I was in real trouble.  Still, I was so relieved not to be on the road that punishment was the least of my concerns.

It took a whole day for them to decide on the degree of my punishment. We kids were never spanked and I always envied those who were. Sure it may hurt for a while, but then it was over. My punishments always lasted for weeks. 


All my comics were taken from me, I was put on an allowance hold for a month, my share of the earnings had to go into the bank, I was grounded to the block for two weeks. Finally and unbelievably,  I was no longer allowed to play with Alice.

To be fair, I told my Dad that the whole thing was not Alice's fault, that it had been all my idea. 
Then he said what parents rarely say to their kids. " I know," he told me," The reason you can't see her is because you are a bad influence on her."

Ah,--- Ah--- I had to admit he was right. It was me who was the bad influence but that still hurt a tad to hear that from someone who had always before had my back and thought me perfect. But I was home again and that was good.

Foot note, today Jim and I are quite close. When we reached high school, we quit squabbling and realized we really liked each other and he became my protective big brother. Love ya Jim
. See ya in April. 

Did you ever runaway? How far did you get?

29 comments :

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  7. Those were just the previous comments from 2009 that I deleted.

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  8. Oh, I wondered about those removed ones. Yes, I ran away once, but it was because my mother told me I was so bad that she was going to leave us unless I did! She didn't think I would, but I did.

    I loved your story, Patti. You still ARE a bad influence in the blogosphere, but you've grown up and the meaning of "bad" has changed as well. :-)

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  9. I ran away once when I was about 8 years old. I don't remember why, but I do remember that I told my mom I was leaving. (Otherwise she wouldn't have looked for me til I didn't come in at dark with my two siblings) We lived in a trailer park and I ran three trailers over and sat on some stranger's front porch. It wasn't that I ran far, but when I started to hear my parents calling me I didn't answer. This lasted all of about an hour, with the fear and guilt making my heart beat out of my chest. I knew I was doing something horrible, not answering my parent's frantic calls. I was found finally, and for my mischief I was rewarded with a glass of milk and two cookies. That was the last glass of milk I ever drank. Won't touch the stuff now. And you (and your readers) are the first people I have ever shared that story with. I still feel guilty all these years later.

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  10. I remember thinking about it. I thought about what I would put in my bandanna before tying it to a stick and decided my favorite toys would not fit so I abandoned the idea.

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  11. Never ran away. I don't think I ever wanted to.

    I think my Mom wanted me to and a few other siblings.

    Maybe that is why. She wanted us to, so we did the opposite.

    Nah, I am kidding. I am not sure why I never wanted to run away. My childhood had its' ups and downs. Maybe because I always had sibling to talk to .

    8 of us.

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  12. I ran away once and made it several miles from home. Someone saw me hiding in an outside church stairwell and called my mom. My step-dad came and got me. I was tired and planned to rest and sleep in that stairwell but had no idea where I was going after that. Loved reading your story sweet Patti. Hugs!

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  13. I think I remember fantasizing about running away, but I don't remember ever having a real plan or doing it. Your pillow-case and bb gun plan was great. I wish there was a picture of you two.

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  14. What a cute post.. Thanks for re-posting it. You are such a good writer. You still should consider writing a book of 'short stories'... It's all about life --and you tell it well.

    Don't think I ever ran away --but I wish parents today would 'discipline' their kids like we were disciplined... Kids today (for the most part) are SO undisciplined --and many times, they are in 'control' of the parents... Scary!!!!

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  15. Yes, I ran away from home when I was seven. We were visiting my grandparents. I ran to the barn and hid there. It started to rain. I knew everyone would be so worried about me out in the rain. (Of course they had seen me go to the barn)

    They brought a watermelon out on the back porch and everyone sat there enjoying the watermelon and watching the rain.

    I was devastated that no one had come to look for me and that I had missed out on the watermelon.

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  16. Loved your runaway story. How cute and funny. I ran away once when I was very young. I didn't make it very far. Just crawled in the rabbit hutch with my bunny and some toys. It was pretty uncomfortable since not all of me fit, so I gave it up rather quickly.

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  17. I never ran away from home, but I did have a huge crush on Roy Rogers. I spent a lot of time planning a way to get rid of Dale Evans, because I reasoned that she was the only thing in the way of him flinging me up behind him on Trigger and riding off into the sunset.

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  18. Some how I can't get my post to show up as a current one on the reading list so I thank those of you who came by anyway.

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  19. Djan,
    I guess you showed her!! Thanks, I kind of try not to be a bad one anymore.

    Terri,
    Wow, you not only did it but actually got rewarded with milk and cookies. Not answering their calls had to have been so hard.Bet you were scared by then.
    Thank you for letting us in on your secret. I hope telling about it has given you some ease.

    Sue,
    Hum, I never thought about toys. Smart move on your part. I made sure I had my toothbrush, a roll of BBs and some PB&J sandwiches.

    Peruby,
    Ha ha, know what you mean about siblings. I am sure brother Jimmy was thrilled I was gone and sad when I returned.

    Maggie,
    Don't feel badly, I had no idea what to do once the $13.82 was gone. Glad you weren't out there long.

    robin,
    Thank you for stopping by again even after you were excused. You and two others were the only ones around the first time.
    I am sure the picture was firmly embedded in my Dad's brain, just not on film.

    Betsy,
    AW, Thanks Betsy. So glad I can amuse a few folks. I do agree on discipline. It doesn't have to be beatings. I learned so much more from groundings.

    NCMountainwoman,
    Wow, your idea to make them "sorry" sure went south. How awful to watch them enjoying the watermelon. Bet they really had fun with that.

    Annie,
    Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. I am surprised at how many folks ran away like you at such a young age. Glad it had a happy ending.

    Betty,
    It was your post about Roy Rogers in 2009 that inspired this post. We both had excellent taste in men and obviously had zero need for a Dale Evans in the picture.

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  20. My what a boring and uncreative childhood I must have had. It never occurred to me to run away.

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  21. Patti, hi! It's been a long time since I've visited your blog or any for that matter, but you never fail to entertain. Love your writing, the stories you tell, and this one included.

    No, have never run away, but that doesn't mean I didn't want to at times.;)

    Hope the summer is treating you well.

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  22. I love this story, especially your Dad telling you that you were a bad influence on Alice.

    I was usually the bad influence too so there's just one more reason to like you!!!!

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  23. TB,
    I guess one could say you had a happy,satisfied childhood and your crush probably lived next door.

    Diana,
    Good to hear from you. I am so glad you enjoyed.
    You showed restraint which is a good thing for no one seemed to have actually succeeded.

    RMW,
    Ha ha, can you imagine if you and I had palled around as kids. It would be a tough call who to hang the blame on:))

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  24. No I was to scared to because of my mother. My older brother did, and her reaction to him was enough to make me never want to try. In fact it took me years to escape.

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  25. Aw Joey, it saddens me to hear how hard your childhood was and how in your current life you are still struggling with your mother. You deserve so much better.

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  26. What a great story. Did you ever play with Alice again? Yes, I ran away once, when I was seven. In the countryside, deep forests on each side of the dirt road. My dad followed me in the trees, where I couldn't see him. But I heard something that scared me, probably he made a noise, and turned back to the summer cottage. I also ran away from school once, when I had had it with the bullying. I was around eight then and was bullied for being so much taller than anyone else. That was the saddest day, one I will never forget.

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  27. I too would like to know if you got to play with Alice again?
    Never ran away that I can remember, but then we lived in the back of beyond.
    Roy Rogers used to come bird hunting on the ranch when I was a little girl. I adored him.

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  28. Inger,
    I am so sorry you were bullied. The ironic thing is that being tall is so sought after by young girls these days. You would have been envied. Answer to question about Alice is below.

    Brighid,
    I am totally green with envy that you actually got to see that man in person. WOW.
    To answer both you and Inger, Alice and I no longer played after school but still had school time. Shirley became my new after school playmate till she introduced me to Danny. He became my first steady boyfriend and both Roy and best girl friends were shoved aside.

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  29. Patti, you write the most wonderful posts. I loved this.

    I ran away only once because I'd been scolded by my mother. I got as far as my father's truck in our driveway. I hid there for the longest time thinking mom would be worried and sorry. I finally came out and learned she knew I was there all the time. Sheesh!

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