Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE BIGGEST BLIZZARD IN THE LAST 20 YEARS...con't...

  It was time to go.  We had decided to make an early start of it, so at 7 am, the doorbell rang and the boy was with his father waiting out in the car.       I hugged daddy hard.  He was crying.  I had never in my life seen him cry.   And here he was.  A man who had raised three children.  A man who was a bomber in World War II and completed 22 successful missons over war torn Europe in a B17 Flying Fortress.  A man who was never sick a day in his life and worked hard at his job without ever complaining, and I saw him standing there in tears begging me not to go.

    My mother was still locked away in her room.  I had not seen her in three days.   She stopped talking to me.      She refused to listen to me.   She locked herself away and I never did have a chance to kiss her, hug her, tell her I loved her , say goodbye to her and  try to make her understand that this is what I must do... what  I had to do.        She knew oh so well how I had suffered.  How lonely I was.     I was suffocating.   There was no hope for me here, no future for me here and no chance for me here.  I never fit in.  And I never would.   Now  I was in survival mode and there  was no turning back for me.  I had to get out...       I had to be free.

    I got in the boys father's car.  He drove us to the brand new interstate that now cut through the frozen farm fields and by passed the little towns that once had thriving motor court motels and where now only ghostly shadows remained.   He dropped us off  on the on  ramp at the outskirts of town.  The snow was swirling, whirling, spinning and stinging.  The boy held me close and wrapped his green woolen  Army coat around me.    I had on the old thrift store fur that I had worn that whole winter but nothing could keep me from shivering and crying and dying inside as I thought of my parents and what I was doing to them.  Then the cars started to go by..first one.. then another...speeding by...not looking...not paying any attention to the kids along side the road.  And then one stopped.......we ran...we got in...The boy in the front seat, I in the back.  A older man was driving.  Probably in his thirties.  A business man on his way to Chicago.  He could give us a ride all the way to Chicago he said.   Two hundred miles.  Two thousand two hundred and fifty more miles to go.

15 comments:

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I'm so torn reading this. I am excited for you to be spreading your wings and can't wait to hear how the adventure unfolds and I'm dying for your parents. I think letting your children wings is the greatest gift you can give them and yet the most difficult one to give.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

What a hard day for everyone concerned!

Sally Annie Magundy said...

Hello!
You so sweetly visited my little blog and left a comment and I thought I'd come by and say hello back. :)
Oh! Every year I want to go see the wisteria vine and every year I forget. Just this morning I found the page I had pulled out of a magazine (to remind myself), saying it was on March 15th this year ... and that was, yesterday. Missed it again! Dagnabbit!
I'll look forward to following with you on your lovely blog. Happy week to you!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Your poor parents; Having grown children of my own, I can imagine how they felt!

But I also know the adrenalin that overrides your nerves as you leave home that first time. You can get pretty far on it and youthful energy.

You spin a great yarn...

Fire Byrd said...

Great atmospheric writing.
You really make the feelings and images come alive. It must be tough writing this getting in touch with old memories.
I'm hoping for happy endings all round.
xx

Elaine Prunty said...

I'm hooked .

Laura said...

It's interesting I can read this from the perspective of you, the teenager and from the view of your parents...I have a 16 year old daughter...really heartwrenching all the way around. Can't wait to read part three.

Mise said...

I'll need a commercial break and a tea now to recover my composure before the next episode, in which I like to think your parents will hop in the family car and join you on a big adventure. The third car will contain the tv cameras. More, please!

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Just like jaboopee...I'm HOOKED.. I can't wait hear more...keep it coming Cynthia!!

I'm torn between being happy for you spreading your wings and flying and your parents dispair at you leaving home! I know how it feels BOTH ways. Whew...I'm on edge waiting to see what happens next LOL!

Thanks for coming over and visiting my Amish post this morning...they really are neat people aren't they! Mmmm donuts fresh out of their kitchen...wouldn't that be delish...yep I've got a craving now. Have a wonderful evening Cynthia! MauraXX

debra@dustjacket said...

Gosh you are good at this, I'm completely sucked in. Feel for your parents, feel for you...what happens next!

re comment: thank you SO much for your words, they really mean a lot to me. I love that you get it and that you love the music.
xxx

Joanna Jenkins said...

In a way you are lucky your mom was locked in the bedroom. My mom would have grabbed on to my leg and it would have been... Take two steps drag mom, take two steps....

I'm loving how your are unfolding your story for us.

More please.
jj

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Hey Cynthia
You certainly know how to create suspense... your poor parents... I'm sure the fact that you were hitch hiking would have been enough to panic them.. let alone crossing the country with a boy...!! you rebel!

Rosemary said...

Great writing!!!
Yes, you did ask where I live, in Thousand Oaks. Not too far away from you.
Love your flea market!!
Rosemary

Anonymous said...

Those times you just hitched a ride. Very different now...and we left home so young! My parents said "the door is always open to return", while my aunt berated my parents with "if my daughter did that to me, she'd be told not to bother to come back". Funny how that has stayed in my mind.You were creating your own history and I can't wait to hear the rest.

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I'm glad you like the "things i like thursdays" - you can buy it at a few places, we have a local grocer that sells it and I think some "world markets" have it now. I was getting mine from Amazon but I've just seen it at their own website for way cheaper - Mrs.Meyers.com

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails