STRANGE CHILD

Do you remember being a weird child ( weird as in different or unusual)? I certainly had my days!
I'll share some of mine if you'll share some of yours...or a least comment on mine. I'd like to know that I'm not alone in this!

In a previous blog I told you that I ran away from home at age 5, with only my doll and swim suit in my suitcase. I didn't tell you why I left....

Allow me to set the stage: no TV at that time, parents didn't talk much in front of the children (and children didn't listen much either). My parents weren't avid readers, my dad came home from work, ate dinner, read the newspaper, then went to bed. My mom would sit out on the steps with the neighbors while I played with the other children. All this to say - There was very little, if any, talk between parents and child.

Now - the rest of the story.

I was not allowed to cross the street, which made it very difficult to run away! So, I walked around the block, and walked around the block.... A neighbor stopped to ask me where I was going with my suitcase. I told her the whole story... "I'm running away because my mommy isn't my real mommy. My real mommy was 'burned with the steak'." My dad had followed me the whole 'trip'. He questioned the neighbor. She recounted the "tall tale" I told her. .He stayed at a distance until it got dark and I went home. I never knew he was there - we never talked about it until I asked (when I was in my 20's ).

I hadn't heard any discussions about Joan of Arc or the Salem Witch Burnings. Where did I get such an idea - at age 5! No, we hadn't had a steak dinner and Mom burned her hand on a hot pan!

My dad confirmed it all!

Now, it's your turn to share....