What an absolutely amazing story that is, Elizabeth!  I found it especially hilarious that the nuns gave you 3 cigarettes, but read The Hobbit.    I remember those days when you could be in great trouble for running away. My father wasn't the easiest to live with.  I ran away at 16 and lived with my older sister for awhile.  My dad threatened to call the police and have me declared "incorrigible."    I've been meaning to look that definition up one of these days!  It would be interesting to know if the meaning has changed between 1960 and today.

CONGRATULATIONS Elizabeth, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!    

Wow Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents 

That is quite a story. The Lord knew the plans he had for you but you had to take a road that most didn't.

Elizabeth,

What a story you shared with us.  There is a book in this.  I had no idea you were from Minnesota.  I liived in St. Peter, Minnesota up to my first year in college at Gustavus Adolphus, and then went on back East to Mt. Holyoke, back to the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis), and then USC fro my Masters degree.  You were and still are "formidable" as a person.  A

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents - And, I am still running, even to this day!  And, probably always will be!

Good morning, Elizabeth --- I may have asked you this before....but who is going to play you in the movie version of your life?   

Elizabeth- I am blown away by your story! 3 cigs a day! I am from that same era and can remember that once I entered college, my mother hated being seen with me when we went shopping in downtown Houston.  LOL I had on the typical hippie attire of the day-long hair ala Joan Baez. You know you look like Joanne Woodward in that picture with your friend. 

Amazing how many kids ran away in that era. Don't know if the parents were too screwed up and the kids couldn't take it any more, or the kids wanted to belong to this great hippie movement happening. Me? I ran away at 19 to Hawaii, Waikiki Beach was an irresistible force for me - and my parents threatened to have me deported (from US back to Canada where I was an immigrant). I'm sure Canada couldn't care less to lose another immigrant to the US.

Hi Elizabeth, I should have figured you for a juvenille delinquent :-) but hey, you turned out great and are still as independent as ever.  I too, loved the story about the nuns.

                        Thank you Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents    PS...Joanne Woodward in her much younger days!

What a post! I think it is wonderful that you kept in touch with your friend, and I also think you should write a book - I bet there are a lot of stories you could share. I remember telling my parents I was running away when I was probably about 8 or so. I went down and sat in the woods for an hour and came home.  The woods were part of our property and I bet my parents had their eye on me the whole time from the back porch. 

Good morning Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents ,

I'm so glad that Kathy Streib featured your post in her "Ah-ha" moments for the week! What a story..loved reading it..you need to write a book and a movie would be awesome!! Susan Sarandon would be perfect!

Kids have always been vulnerable to difficult family dynamics but I know that many of us ran away.  I love your story-and I too ran away, but just to a girlfriend's house whose mom of course, called my parents and told them to come pick me up!

Overcoming obstacles.  That's you.  Bars on the windows.  No problem.  A listing that is about to go to foreclosure.  No problem.  

I love this blog about you ran away as a teen, Most have got over and do not share it with others.

All the best,

Sam Shueh

Definitely an interesting story.  I saw a quote about friendship once that went something like this:

If you get thrown in jail, a friend will come visit you,

A good friend will throw your bail,

Your best friend will be in the cell with you. 

Always good to have a cell-mate in your life.