I'm going to run-away and join the circus!
When I was a child and didn’t agree with my mother, I’d use the age-old threat of running away. This was around the ages of 6-7, and I really never had a “running away to” destination. The process generally consisted of me dramatically yanking my wicker suitcase from the closet, disposing it in the living room in front of my mother, then packing the possessions I would need for my trip – this was usually pajamas and my Holly Hobbie rag doll. Frequently my destination ended-up being Mrs. Mile’s house, a neighbor lady who would feed me milk and cookies. I’d stay there for maybe an hour, then return home happy.
August’s running-away threat: “I’m going to ship myself to Australia!” He then proceeds to search the house for a box or hamper; basically any container that he can fit into. Then he fits himself in it and sporadically shouts out other threats: “I’m not taking you with me!”… “I’m going to live with Koala bears!”…”I won’t send you postcards!”….
Then he must get tired of being cramped in the box and discards his travel plans.
What was your running-away threat?
Comments
i didn't have to threaten. at 15 my bags were packed for me!
Posted by: c-freak | July 25, 2006 08:39 AM
My parents tell me at age 3 I was breaking into the neighbor lady's house for cookies.
Posted by: adam | July 25, 2006 08:48 AM
Hmm. I thhink I just stormed out of the house and jumped on my bike. Never made it any farther than a couple of blocks.
Now I dream of jumping in a Sprinter RV and never looking back.
Posted by: starfire | July 25, 2006 08:54 AM
Mine was at age 6 and leaving the front porch was a dramatic site. Down the steps I went, FREEDOM!
I reached the corner and lived out my day waving at cars and wishing I was able to cross the street by myself!
Mom was able to keep her eye on me from the house, unbeknownst to me.....
I continue to "run" but have the pangs of responsibility and always return (but now I can cross the streets - unless it's London Road during busy time or construction)
Posted by: heysme | July 25, 2006 10:11 AM
I never wanted to run in anger, but I fantasized about it for fun, in a Boxcar Children sort of way. My daydreams always involved a bindle stick.
Posted by: Barrett | July 25, 2006 01:11 PM
We lived out in the country, so our flounces weren't quite as dramatic--if we stormed out of the house, there weren't any people around to notice. ;+) (Other than our parents, of course.) I would pack up my backpack and march myself to the swamp down the road, where I'd catch frogs for a while until I got bored.
Posted by: Mary | July 25, 2006 01:34 PM
when I was young we lived in the middle of the woods in Newfoundland. I have been told that I knew the area well enough that when other people got lost they sent me out to look for them. Which doesn't surprise me as I remember a lot of exploration with my dog, nothing else to do really.
The thing is though, nowadays I am just a little bit directionally challanged. I get lost easy, I've even come to acept it and not really mind when I get lost. Last christmas when I went to nashville I spent most of the time unsure of where I was exactly in the city, but always managed to get where I was going, and was only seriously late once.
So, long way of saying I never ran away becasue for the most part no one would have noticed and I had ample free time anyway
Posted by: edgeways | July 25, 2006 01:45 PM
Y'all missed your chance to run away with the Thomas Shows. They were advertising for strong, hard-working individuals a few weeks ago to run off with the carnival and now its too late. I think they pay you in cotton candy and giant stuffed animals anyhow.
Posted by: zoey | July 25, 2006 03:05 PM
I still do it and I've been teaching Hazel how to do it... I call it "going on an adventure..."
It's much nicer having a car, 'cause you can go much farther.
I always come back, though.
Posted by: tamara | July 25, 2006 03:19 PM
i could get lost in a lunchbox.
Posted by: in.dog.neato | July 25, 2006 04:18 PM
When I was really young, my sister was pissing me off so I decided to move to the treehouse in the nearby woods. My sister found me four blocks away lugging a HUGE suitcase towards the woods. When we got back, she opened it and began to laugh because it was FULL of stuffed animals (essential runaway needs!).
Another time I "ran away" but decided that I didnt' really want to pee in the woods, so I just moved into the bathroom and locked the door. I figured I would just sleep on the floor, then sneak out at night in order to eat.
When I was older however, I did running away right, and kept a bag full of essentials with me at all times so I could easily take off.
Posted by: Bad Cat! | July 25, 2006 06:38 PM
As a child I was so lost in my fantasy worlds that I created upstairs in my room that I never bothered to physically run away. In college I was on my way to work one day and saw the most beautiful hitchkiker boy and for a brief moment I considered running away with him. I wondered how far we could get on my credit cards. Instead I went to work.
Posted by: laurie | July 26, 2006 12:02 AM
When I was 4 or 5, my parents told me I would run away several times a week to my Nonnie's house. We lived in downtown St. Paul and she lived about 4 miles away. I would grab my Strawberry Shortcake bag, fill it with apples (eventally, I took apples with me everywhere I went), and storm out the door. My dad would of course follow me and every few blocks I would scream "Dad, I know you're following me! Leave me alone - you can't stop me!" Finally I would arrive at her house and she would give me all the candy I wanted. Damn! What a great grandma! Come to think of it, I STILL do that whenever i'm pissed....
Posted by: rollergirl | July 26, 2006 12:10 AM
When I was 4 or 5, my parents told me I would run away several times a week to my Nonnie's house. We lived in downtown St. Paul and she lived about 4 miles away. I would grab my Strawberry Shortcake bag, fill it with apples (I guess I took apples with me everywhere I went), and storm out the door. My dad would of course follow me and every few blocks I would scream "Dad, I know you're following me! Leave me alone - you can't stop me!" Finally I would arrive at her house and she would give me all the candy I wanted. Damn! What a great grandma! Come to think of it, I STILL do that whenever i'm pissed....
Posted by: rollergirl | July 26, 2006 12:11 AM
Crap it's too late for me to be posting.. I can't spell and I can't post correctly.........
Posted by: rollergirl | July 26, 2006 12:13 AM
My runaway plan as a kid never got past the fantasy stage. I had too many prerequisites before taking action. Such as procuring several items from the Sears catalog, including:
1. one lime green go-cart
2. one Sir Edmund Hillary cabin tent
3. CB walkie-talkie
After putting away childish things, I ran away to Duluth. I have a tent, but still no go-cart.
Posted by: PJ | July 26, 2006 12:03 PM
There was a Sir Edmund Hillary cabin tent?
That would probably come in handy winter camping in Duluth, even if I highest altitude has contains a bunch of transmission towers.
Posted by: Purple | July 26, 2006 12:17 PM
Its not too late to runaway! The Head of the Lakes Fair is in town.
Posted by: -Berv | July 26, 2006 01:28 PM
when i was in gradeschool some woman from Superior ran away with Weird Al Yankovic after he performed at the Head of the Lakes Fair. She left her kids, job everything. She came back eventually. I guess comical song paradies are only sexy for so long.
Posted by: laurie | July 26, 2006 08:07 PM
i'd run away with weird al's wife. she's hot!
Posted by: c-freak | July 27, 2006 09:01 AM