A Night to Remember

Last night I slept in layers of clothes and a sleeping bag that was too small for me. It was a long day from the beginning.

My boyfriend Jared and I had plans to meet up with our friends Jay and Carrigan in downtown Midland for the Chili Cook-Off at noon. Then we were all heading back to my house for the night’s adventure.

Jared and Jay have been best friends for a few years now, Carrigan is Jay’s girlfriend, also a good friend of mine, and we double-date quite often. The boys work together at Quality Truck and Auto Accessories in Midland. One of the days they were detailing a car together, they came up with an idea. Since this past week was so warm and beautiful, the boys decided that we should go camping as one last summer hurrah. I suggested that we go out back behind my house because there’s several acres of forest and trails, plus one really beautiful clearing where we could set up our camp.

So when Jared and I were waiting for Jay and Carrigan, we decided to head out and set up our stuff so that we could help carry our friends’ things back there when they arrived. We had just made it to the clearing when Carrigan called me saying they had arrived. Jared and I hurried back to see that Jay’s truck was filled to the brim with things to carry. Jared and I passed a look that said “oh wow” to say the least. We had just made one trip and we were worn out already, it was at least a ten minute walk one way and we looked at that truck to notice that it would take at least three additional trips out there and back to get everything they had brought.

We began with their tent, blankets/pillows, and clothes. By the time we got back I had to loan Carrigan a lint brush to attempt to remove the thousands of thistles from her yoga pants, whereupon she changed into jeans. Trip number two consisted of the cooler, chairs, and a few more bags. Surprisingly, we got it all out there in only two trips.

Once we set up camp, it was time to find good roasting sticks for our hot dogs while the boys cut firewood. Carrigan and I set out for a younger tree with long enough branches for roasting sticks, none of which we found. So we resulted in cutting down two saplings. When we returned to the camp site, it was just about dark and the boys were having trouble getting the fire going. To everyone’s surprise, the dried ferns we chose for kindling would not light. While I spent about a half an hour whittling the sticks into perfect roasters, the boys struggled with the fire. They tried lighting different branches from our wood pile, different dead plants, they even tried softly blowing on the tiny flame. The fire finally started when Jared let the Butane run out of the lighter onto the instruction manual from Jay’s tent and lit it. Carrigan and I cheered.

After about three hours of laughing, singing, and storytelling, we decided to put out the fire and retire for the evening. After putting plenty of water on the coals, we said goodnight and zipped up the tents. Jared and I climbed into our sleeping bags and the peaceful, cricket-chirp-filled atmosphere was soon filled with Jared’s snoring and some creature in the woods. I would listen to that mixture for the next two hours or so while I laid there wide awake, staring at the ceiling of the tent. That creature in the woods had me quite freaked out throughout the duration of the evening. I didn’t sleep well at all, but I stayed warm and that was the important part.

This morning we woke and began to pack everything up. We again loaded ourselves like pack mules to start our hauling trips. Carrigan made a comment about how next time we do this, we should plan to camp out for more than one night, we all agreed. All in all, it was a fun night full of memories with good friends. Point taken, when going wilderness camping, pack only the essentials, and that includes starter fluid.

Sign Me Up

Over the duration of my middle school and high school years, I’ve managed to complete a hard task. I’ve stayed close with one of my best friends. Alexis and I met at 6^th grade orientation, I was struggling with my locker when she walked up and asked if I needed any help. It was then that I discoveredwe were locker neighbors. Throughout middle school, we had many classes together. We laughed at the same things, had similar opinions, we quickly became friends. So began the typical “best friend” routine of always hanging out together, sharing every secret, etc. We went through our growing up stages together. I hugged her while she cried after her first break-up. She was with me when I got pulled over for the first time (I had forgotten to turn my lights on because we were in town and the street lights threw me off). We were there for each other through the hard times and the good ones.

 

 

 

 

Something I’ve noticed about having a best friend is that you get volunteered for things that you didn’t plan on. You become the guinea pig for all sorts of experimentation.

Alexis decided to enroll herself in the IB Art class offered at our high school during our senior year. This class was easily one of the most challenging classes you could take. So, she surrendered her life to utter chaos. She was well equipped with creativity, but she often needed assistance. Since Alexis planned to enter college for photography, the IB Art class allowed her to explore her mind and begin the steps to photography. In the idea department, she was all set. However, she needed a subject. Thus I became the model for her profession.

I’ve been a clown.

I've been a nutcase.

 

Alexis did well in her class. She excelled and landed herself a $40 K scholarship to a prestige art school because her sketch book she sent in was phenomenal. The photo shoots will continue. I will continue to be a subject because I am the best friend. Most recently, I was a rose and a metaphorical sunrise.

I have fun when helping with a photo shoot. I’ll begin to like them even better because it means time with my best friend. I’ll miss her more and more now that I won’t see her every day. I’ve been with her from the beginning of her photography passion. Though I have virtually no artistic ability whatsoever, being a part of Alexis’ photo shoots have made me feel like I can at least be of assistance. I must say though, the things I’ve become out of the goodness of my heart for the academic gain of my best friend are extremely outside the box. Point taken, art classes are out of control.

 

 

Obtaining skills from a hippie

One day a few years back, amidst a brilliantly shining sun and very chipper birds, my cousin Shelby and I passed a volleyball routinely back and forth. We talked with each other explaining the facts of our lives during this time. I was about 16, she was 15.

I explained about how things at my mom's job were getting worse and how she came home every night explaining how much she hated her bosses and she would give me her "I quit" speech that we both knew she would never say. Shelby and I giggled over that as she began to tell me how things with her sisters had been going lately.

The sister second to her, Jayci, had been pretty sassy with everybody lately and she was in that "why doesn't anybody understand me" age. “We’ve all been there,” I told Shelby.

Shelby then began to talk about her youngest sister Sofia. Sofia was quite an interesting kid of about 7 years. She always tried getting her point across in the most hysterical ways, sometimes unknowingly. She would be attempting an explanation of her reasoning when all of a sudden she's petting Shelby's head whispering "hush taco." Such things I've witnessed with Sofia.

While speaking of the little one, she came bouncing around the corner of the yard on her bike. "Look at me I'm going to jump the ramp!" she announced. She then preceded to drive over the ramp without the slightest indication of a jump. Shelby and I both cheered, despite the failure. Sofia ditched the bike and then decided she was going to join our volleyball toss. "Sofia this is big girl time," Shelby explained. Sofia of course combated that with an explanation that she was a big girl and demanded the ownership of the ball. After arguments between the two sisters Sofia suddenly burst out with "Do you want me to scream like a hippie?!" After finishing a roar of laughter, I opened my mouth and asked "How does one scream like a hippie?" Shelby then cut me off with a quick "Don't ask her that!" Next thing I know there was a sudden sharp, annoying ring of a sound that emerged from Sofia. Shelby then tossed her the ball in defeat. Sofia beamed with victory as she hit the ball in an upward motion. And that was that.

It was surprising to me how smart the kid’s plan had been. She knew for a fact that we would not want to hear her hippie screaming and that in turn she would get the ball just so we could get her to shut up. I never had siblings so I never developed these skills. In conclusion of this story I would like to add that Sofia, like many young girls her age, had discovered that she could use her skills to obtain a swift triumph over her sisters. She’s a devious little thing. Point Taken, when trying to get something you want, just start some trusty hippie screaming. 

Why this?

I chose this topic for my blog because I learn something almost every day. Be it family, friends, strangers, music, pets or nature, there is generally something happening that captures your attention.

For me, it’s usually my family that gives me some undefined insight to a new subject. Allow me to explain. First, I need to describe how interesting my family truly is. It’s important to introduce this now because my family members will most likely take up half of my blog. Family to me includes all cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents on both sides. My family on my mom's side has always been close. We all call on each other for a favor here and there and we all get together for every holiday, and I mean every. Very rarely does something occur to any one member and the rest of us doesn't know about it within ten minutes; my grandma of course being the culprit of this. You could call us redneck and country because if we were any other title, it simply wouldn't fit. I am proudly the oldest of seven cousins and I am very close with every one of them.

My dad’s side is just as great but quite different from my mom’s. My dad and I have this close relationship where we basically spend our time together messing around and making each other laugh until we cannot breathe anymore. My stepmom Karen has always loved me as one of her own and for that I am eternally grateful. They used to live in East Lansing, where I visited every other weekend, now they live in New Hampshire. My grandma and grandpa as well as my aunt, uncle, and baby cousin all live in Florida. They are the sweetest people and tons of fun to be around. I visit them for a week of bliss during the summer.

I’ve learned so many wonderful lessons from my family and it’s time that I reflect on a few of them. I will also be touching on some of those lessons I’ve learned just by living. Music has been another inspiration in my life and I’ll be touching on that as well.

I just graduated from high school and I’m looking forward to starting this new chapter in my life. The things I’ve observed and the things I’ve learned throughout my adolescent years will continue to stick with me throughout the years ahead. I plan to use this blog to remember the important things I have learned about life. Some entries will be more light-hearted than others, and some will be more serious than others. Similarly, some entries will be a flash-back and some may be current; I will distinguish between the two accordingly.

I truly believe that everyone learns something new every day and that it depends on how we use that newfound knowledge whether it becomes useful or not. People who apply the information they learn in everyday life are those who are living life to the fullest.