Photograph of a road in rural Ohio in 1925Running away from a home is a staple of childhood, only most kids go only as far as the next block or the neighbor's garage. Not our dad!
When Dad was about 12, he and his best friend Dale Downey got the itch to run away from home. Apparently their thirst for adventure was huge: They made it from Millfield, Ohio, to East St. Louis, Mo., a distance of nearly 500 miles! And this was in 1924 0r 1925!
Just try to imagine those two young boys, working their way west from Southeast Ohio, doing odd jobs for their meals or a barn to sleep in, carrying their old suitcases and forging westward! When Daddy told this story to Mitch and Zach, when they were the same age as he was during his great escape, their mouths were hanging open in disbelief and wonder. They thought Granddad was telling a tall tale. I was spellbound too, wondering about the details he left out, like what he told his parents, whether he was scared, how long he and Dale were gone.
All he said was that they discovered it was a long way "West," and after reaching E. St. Louis, where they slept in a barn for the night (a barn that my granddad later took a picture of), he and Dale decided that if the next car to come along and give them a ride was heading west, they'd continue on; but if it was heading east, they'd go back home.
Thankfully, the man who picked them up was headed east. I think he scolded them for running away and told them they needed to get home. Then he took them to the rail yards and helped them hop a freight train home. I never heard whether he got a whipping or whether anyone missed him, but he always grinned when he told about their adventures, whether it was something on an epic scale like this one or just catching crawdads in the creek.
Now that's a story to tell you grandchildren about one day! I can't match it, can you?
The thing is, Dad always had a wanderlust, and right up to the end of his life, he was always ready to go. He just couldn't help wondering what was on the other side. Now he knows, and I hope it was worth the trip. Bon voyage, Daddy.
7 comments:
Don and I have heard the story more than once; but what a delight to hear it again. Dad was certainly not a child who hung around the house-he was mischievous; and took his licks; then carried on as usual!
Don says that they slept in that barn, only after doing chores all day so they could have a meal and spend the night! Dad made it clear that it wasn't a free pass!
Don may enlighten you later on some of the stories Dad told to him! But, we probably have all heard the same stories, maybe with a different twist here and there :)
I remember only half believing the story until you or Mom showed me a picture of the barn that Granddad took. And, yes, he was very proud of earning his way, even when he was so young.
I added a little epilogue to the story that may bring a tear, but it seemed fitting when I awoke this morning.
What a blessing and a curse his wanderlust was! That adventure would have taken it out of a lot of boys, but as you say Nan, Dad never lost it. Truly may he rest in peace now.
Hey, I have tried to live up to his adventurous spirit!
Loweezy? Where has that name been all your life?
I had forgotten my roots!! Loweezy is Snuffy Smith's wife, isn't she?? :)
Oh yeah!
What a great story! Amazingly, I had never heard it before, so thank you for repeating it here. :)
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