RRR's daughter episode was a tough flashback for me.

[Ptah]

Chapter one.

My son (hereafter known as Son) ran several times.

One of the most memorable was when he was fifteen tears old.
He was on juvenille probation, and not meeting the requirements.
It was in the morning, we were both leaving for work when I had
last seen my only son.


He didn't come home that day.
.

or the next, or the next.

I pasted lost posters, with picture,
and asking for help locating him.

I harassed any of his friends and
their parents that I cound find.

No luck. He's a clever young man.

I stalked areas I knew Son had frequented.
No luck

Day after day, no luck.



Eight days and nights after I saw him,
at nearly midnight, I recieved a phone call from
Imperial County, CA.
We resided in Pima County, AZ.

Two hundred fifty miles from home,
Son had been arrested in the
train yarn in CA.


I'm so glad RRR's Sarah is home.



Tell your kid missing story.

[Ptah]

1. If this is inappropriate, I'll ask to have it deleted.

If this is just too boring,
as usual, I'll live with it.

:shrug:

[ZombieNixon]

3. Well, I have no kids, so therefore no story.

Perhaps missing kids isn't such a common occurrence. :shrug:

Sorry you had to go through that, though. I am so relieved that RRR's daughter is home. :)

[Ptah]

9. Thanks, ZN.

re RRR and her daughter Sarah:










Hold everyone close.

[Redstone]

19. No, it's fine. Not boring. You can share your suffering with us, and

we'll not get tired of it.

At least I won't. It's too much for you to have to deal with on your own.

Redstone

[NewWaveChick1981]

2. No kid missing story here, but I just wanted to say

I'm really sorry you and your family had to go through all of that. :hug: My heart goes out to everyone who has had that awful experience.

[XemaSab]

4. I was missing all afternoon

in the mountains near Yosemite when I was 4! :bounce:

The fire department found me! :bounce: :bounce:

[Ptah]

6. Do you remember your folks' reaction?

:shrug:

[XemaSab]

8. My mom didn't hear about it for months

I was staying with my grandparents at the time, and they were totally freaked! :o

[Ptah]

12. That's interesting that G'parents didn't tell your momma.

I'll bet that was an interesting discussion
between your grandma and grandpa.

:hug:

[XemaSab]

34. Oh yeah

"Let's just not tell K. that we lost her daughter in the woods for an afternoon."

"Uh... okay."

[Ptah]

36. Did you know you were lost?

:shrug:

[XemaSab]

37. I knew I was lost

but I was with their dog, and I figured the dog would go home at some point, so I just spent the afternoon following the dog around. :shrug:

[Ptah]

39. Dogs are good that way.

:thumbsup:

[XemaSab]

44. It's a fact

[bigwillq]

5. How is your son doing now?

:shrug:


Excuse my stupidity if something god awful happen to him that I don't know about. Not that I am wishing that but I don't know anything about your son. I am just wondering how he is doing.

[Ptah]

10. He is now serving a prison sentence.

He will be able to come home in less than three years.
I appreciate your curiosity.
I need to tell the story sometimes.

RRR's trouble brought it to the surface again.

And I will say this for RRR:










Hold everyone close.

[Radio_Lady]

13. Sorry to hear about your son, Ptah. I remember you posting those

family pictures with the words from "Sunrise, sunset..."

I have two stepdaughters who have been estranged from us for years -- problems began when they were in their teens and we have never been able to resolve the issues. This has been going on for many years; they are both in their 40s now.

They are well, I believe (although I don't really know it for sure).

One is in the Seattle area, married, with three kids.

The second lives near Albany, married, with two kids.

We have no contact with either family or their children. The grandchildren have been kept from us almost since birth and we have been treated as predators. (No visits ever took place without the parents in attendance!)

It is still a real stab in my heart; my husband takes it better than I do -- he does not trust or believe in them anymore.

Anyway, perhaps your son will be a better person when he gets out of prison. Hard time brings hard lessons.

In peace,

Radio_Lady

PS. Have a good weekend!

PPS. I love your bright red exploding hearts!

[Ptah]

26. Thank you Radio_Lady.

I remember you response to the Sunrise, Sunset thread.
You are, I think, the only DUer to know about my handle.
I read every review that you post here.

Thanks, Radio_Lady
It's alway good to get wishes from a contempory.

:hippie:

[Kali]

18. Sorry to hear that. Its tough having family in prison.

Have a "lost" sister who has done some time in county jail. Is your son here in the state?

[Ptah]

28. Yes, he's in AZ DOC, Florence right now.

He earned it.

What a career choice.

As bad as it sounds, I sleep better
knowing he will not starve in the desert
or go without critical medical care.

:cry:

[Blue_In_AK]

30. He is with many of Alaska's inmates

who get sent down to that very place. I'm sorry, Ptah ... I have experience with this prison business - long story - but I sympathize. I hope he is learning his lessons.

[Kali]

33. Yeah I know

When my sister was locked up was the healthiest she had been since she was about age 13. Sober, structure, routines, she really benefited. Too bad she got out. Two daughters removed from her care and nobody know how she is doing, really. We think she is still in AZ. Lot of issues for me. I have one of her daughters.

Do you see your son?

[bigwillq]

20. That stinks about your son.

I am sorry you had to go through this. I am sure it was tough.

Hopefully your son learns something from his mistakes. I hope he is rehabilitating and progressing. He still has the chance to make something of his life.

:hug:

[Ptah]

29. Ther's always tomorrow, bigwillg.

Thanks.

:hug:

and for RRR:










Hold everyone close.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

57. I'm sorry to hear that.

I hope he manages to get his life straightened out once he's out.

:hug:

[Kali]

7. I was checking a bunch while the Sarah story was unfolding

I took off for a couple of days when I was 15. My kids don't seem so inclined, although the oldest went missing a couple times in kindergarten/first grade - those kind of panic-but-cute ending things only lasting a few hours.

We have been told it is such a dangerous world by fear-based media and in some ways it really is worse, but of course you don't often hear about the ones that turn out alright. I am sure most do. Glad yours did and glad RRR's did, for the time being...they still have a few years to go, don't they!

[Ptah]

11. Every response to this thread reminds me of other scares.

Your kindergarten missing reminded me of when
Son was four and I lost him at a hot air baloon festival.
I found him in the sheriff's rescue tent.

I hope we all have a few years to go!

:hi:

[MsKandice01]

14. My kid is only 3 so we haven't had any major moments yet...

The worst scare I had was when he hid in the closet one time while I was using the bathroom and I couldn't find him for about 15 minutes. I ran out of the house thinking he had walked out of the house and when I didn't see him, I freaked. I was running around the inside and outside of the apartment screaming his name frantically and was just about to call the police when he came running out of the closet giggling and yelling, "I find you, Mommy!" I couldn't do anything but laugh...and cry.

I'm just so glad that rrr's daughter is back home safely.

[Ptah]

21. That moment.

Oh Godess, that moment when we can't find
them.

:scared:

[Ariana Celeste]

15. I don't have any kids myself...

I'm still a kid in many people's eyes (21 yrs old.)

I can tell you though, that reading all of the updates on RRR's situation.... I am so thankful that every time I thought about running away.... I got caught beforehand or changed my mind. I would hate to have caused any of that kind of pain and fear in my mother. :(.

:hug: for you... thanks for sharing your story.

And a big :woohoo: for RRR!!!

[Ptah]

22. A double big woohoo! for RRR!

:hug:

[Blue_In_AK]

16. None of my kids went missing

but I went missing from my parents for a while, although not when I was a teen. I was already living on my own in California after graduating from college, but I just got so wrapped up in my own "counterculture" lifestyle at the time (1970 or so) that I forgot to keep in touch with home for well over a year. I had moved several times, as well, and my parents didn't know where I was. Finally one day I got a call from the California state troopers (or whatever they call them down there) letting me know that they'd been contacted by my folks who were concerned about my welfare. I felt pretty terrible for worrying them and called home right away. That never happened again.

[Ptah]

23. I was lost to my parents for a couple of years in the late seventies.

I regret it to this day.

:hug:

[Blue_In_AK]

27. You know what, Ptah?

You and I don't interact a whole lot here, but I really like you. I just wanted to let you know that.

[Ptah]

31. Thanks, Blue_In_AK.

I appreciate your photographs.
As an outsider, I know I have much to
learn about Alaska.

:hug:

[Blue_In_AK]

32. Thanks. Here are a couple I posted last night late

that might make you feel peaceful.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

56. Damn! I really need to get up to Alaska.

I'm always tempted to go up there for a summer and get a job bartending or something.

[Redstone]

17. I don't have a "kid missing story," but I wanted to reply to your post

and tell you that it's true - those of us parents who haven't had it happen to them will NEVER understand those like you, the ones who have had it happen.

We can offer our sympathy,as I do to you, but we can never TRULY understand.

Whatever I could say to you would be inadequate. Dammit.

Because I wish there were some way I could help. I do.

Redstone

[Ptah]

24. I have no doubt that you have a firm understanding.

I have inadequate sentences for you, too, Redstone.

I was saddened to learn of your recent loss.

:hug:

[Redstone]

25. Still, there's PM if you need it. My loss pales beside yours.

Truth.

Redstone

[Ptah]

35. In chapter one, our protaganist was on a freight train in Tucson.

The boxcar he jumped into had about twenty people already in it.
None of them admitted speaking english, but were helpful anyway.
They fed Son and kept him well hydrated.
When the train arrived in the Yuma yard, the all scattered.
Most were apprehended.


Chapter Two:

Less than two years later, he hopped a freight train again.

This time there were no others in the boxcar.
About half way there, the train stopped to allow a train
pass in the other direction.
Good thing, beacuase he hadn't brought enough water.
The stop in the middle of nowhere was near an irrigation ditch.
He sucked all he could and returned to the boxcar just before
the train moved on.
When the train stopped in Yuma, the engineer walked
near his boxcar and left a case of
bottle water for Son.
He was arrested about a half an hour later.



And his sister's name is Sarah.

[GardeningGal]

38. Teen years are so difficult

I don't have any children or step-children but I have many nieces and nephews and I've been a "surrogate mom" many times. It's such a tough time dealing with the emotions and peer pressure of those years.

Best wishes to all that are going through similar issues.

[Ptah]

40. My aunts and uncles were godsends.

We nephews thank you for surrogating us!
And I thank you for your neices, too!

[GardeningGal]

42. Oh.....thank you Ptah!

We are sometimes forgotten people in the raising of children, but I do think we contribute. It takes a village you know?

[Ptah]

46. I had five uncle, six aunts.

Twenty three cousins.
Our 'village' was magnificent.
I will never forget any of the adults that were
part of my home village.

Her is a photo from 1917 that has two of my granparents.



yadda yadda

[CaliforniaPeggy]

41. My dear Ptah.......

My heart goes out to you with your story.....

I have no missing child story to tell.......

My girls never ran away or hid from us.......

We were lucky.....

Blessings on you, my dear Ptah, for opening yourself up to grief and loss by telling us your son's story, and your own part in it......

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[Ptah]

43. It's you and your ilk that make it

possible to be. here. now.

:hug:



I expect you to have a wonderful Ohio meet-up,
and bring many photos.

:l
:party: :bounce: :silly: :crazy: :wow: :thumbsup:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

47. Thank you so much, my dear Ptah....

I know I will have a very good time....

And yes, there will be many great photos......

You know I will have a thread on it!

I am honored that you feel as though I make it possible for you to be here now.....

I am honored as well by your presence, sweetie....... :hug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

45. Ptah...

I'm so sorry things have been so rough with your son. My older boy went through hell (and dragged us along) at 15, too. He's 19 now...not totally out of the woods; but a lot more clear-headed than he was 4 years ago.

I have a cousin who spent years in and out of jail and halfway houses due to his cocaine habit. He'd stolen from his parents, friends, and employers for the sake of the stuff.

I'm not sure what it was that finally got to him...maybe it just suddenly dawned on him that it was useless to try and make his loved ones give up on him. But he's ok now. He's in his early 40s, and has stayed away from drugs and alcohol for a good ten years now. He's got a good job, married a wonderful girl, and has 2 nice kids.

I hope your son figures out who he really is soon. :hug:

[Ptah]

48. My dear GoddessOfGuinness

Thanks for the hug.

:loveya:

[reyd reid reed]

49. Oh, how horrible

I'm so sorry you had to go through that, Ptah....

:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

[Ptah]

50. I am able to sleep more peacefully knowing your Sarah is home.

Hold everyone close.

[Blue Diadem]

51. My brother ran away when he was 16-17. I was little but I remember

my parents being frantic. We drove all around looking for him, checking train stations, bus stations, hospitals, checking with his friends. The police were called. For days we drove and drove rechecking places trying to find him. I think it was a week or so later that we heard from my oldest brother, who was living in California, that our brother had made it all the way there by hitch hiking. My dad had to take a train to get him and bring him home. I remember being so happy that he was home..but he was so angry when my Dad and he walked in that I stayed quiet.

After that they went to counseling..didn't seem to help. My brother was eventually given the choice by a judge to either shape up or go into the service. He decided to quit school and go into the Army. From there came Viet Nam and Agent Orange..two tours that really screwed him up physically and mentally. He was never the same..suffering from PTSD and chronic health problems till he passed away.


RRR's daughter episode was a tough flashback for me too.

[Ptah]

52. War SUCKS!

:hug:

[Blue Diadem]

53. Yes

I often wonder what his life would have been like if he hadn't chosen the service and gone off to war.

I wish your son the best. I hope he can get his life straightened out. If you don't mind, may I include him in my prayers?

:hug:

[Ptah]

54. I'll let him know that there is one more on his side!

:prayer:

Thank you.

:hug:

[knowbody0]

55. your memory is my today

first time experience. i posted in the parent forum