Making Memories On A Long Dirt Road

Making Memories On A Long Dirt Road

When not one but three signs tell you to turn around, you should probably listen.
Emmy Rinehart
Emmy Rinehart Jan 16, 2018
125
views

It had been a wonderful night with an even more wonderful person, but now it was time to see my family.

It was New Year’s Eve, and my boyfriend and I had just watched the Trans Siberian Orchestra rock their hearts out on stage, and were now starting our three-hour trek from Cleveland, Ohio to Hawking Hills State Park. It was dark and cold, and we were looking forward to spending time with great people, playing some games, and ringing in the new year.

Everything went smoothly, and we were nearing the end of our journey when our GPS told us to turn left down a dirt road. We stopped to read the massive road block which said, "Road Closed: Local Traffic Only." We assumed they just didn't want trucks on this old, dirt road, and we were going to a cabin in the middle of nowhere after all, so we proceeded on our trip.

A few minutes later, after driving on this dirt road with no lights and trees for miles on each side of us, we come upon another road block. This one is smaller, broken, and off to the side more so than the first one. We carefully drive his small Impala around the road block, and continue.

Shortly after, we see a huge, white boulder in the middle of the road. After several minutes of muscling the rock out of the road, we continue.

It's about 9 p.m. now and the GPS is still telling us we're on the right track when we come upon a massive wall of dirt...and a very definitive dead end.

The road ending was the least of our problems.

As we tried to back up to turn around, we realized something terrible: we had driven right into mud that was at least two feet deep.

To our left was the mound of dirt that seemed to defy the laws of physics and went almost 90 degrees straight up. To our right was a drop of just as steep as the dirt pile with no barrier other than a small piece of rope.

For two hours, we tried to pry the Impala from the clutches of Mother Earth to no avail. After a whole lot of stress bonding and both of us wanting to throw up (me from anxiety and him from over exertion) we decided to try to call for help. There was just one problem...

Neither of us had cell service.

It was clear that the road we were on had connected to the road we needed to be on at some point, but someone had decided to get rid of the connection. We could see the road we needed to be on, but we were doubtful that anyone could see use because of the dirt piled around us.

We managed to call his dad who then let my mom know we were trying to contact them but couldn't. I got in a few short phone calls to her, but both of our calls kept dropping, and our phones were almost completely dead after the long day we had had.

After a half hour, my phone finally got enough of a signal to find our location, and I sent it to my mom. We could see my aunt's truck on the road in front of us, but we had no way to flag them down. Even if we could have, there was no way for them to get to us from that side.

Finally, they saw us and back tracked until they found that long dirt road full of barriers we had embarked down over an hour ago.

They struggled to hook up straps to the Impala to pull it out because by now, we had dug ourselves into a hole so deep that you almost couldn't see its wheels. After many failed attempts and broken straps, we finally got one good pull in and could then just rock it back and forth to turn it around.

I watched my family to direct me because if I looked in the side mirrors, all I could see was how close I was to falling down that massive ledge.

After a whole lot of stress, sweat, and mud, we finally got it turned around and on solid ground again. We all happily returned to our vehicles and...

It was midnight.

Soon, we were all out of our cars again screaming "Happy New Year!" on a pitch black dirt road in the middle of nowhere, hugging each other tight, and thanking God we were safe and together again.

We had no idea that this was how we would be ringing in the New Year, but I don't regret going down that old dirt road, passed all the things telling us to turn around.

It reminded me to hold my loved ones just a little bit closer, and I learned that sometimes all it takes is getting a little mud on your tires to make a memory that will last a life time.

(Okay, maybe A LOT of mud in this case, and I'm good with just one memory like this one. No more road-blocked dirt roads for us!)

Cover Image Credit: Emmy Rinehart
Emmy Rinehart
Emmy Rinehart Jan 16, 2018
At West Virginia University

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10 Things Someone Who Grew Up In A Private School Knows

The 10 things that every private school-goer knows all too well.

Emily Spencer
Emily Spencer Feb 8, 2016
29411
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1. Uniforms

Plaid. The one thing that every private school-goer knows all too well. It was made into jumpers, skirts, shorts, scouts, hair ties, basically anything you could imagine, the school plaid was made into. You had many different options on what to wear on a normal day, but you always dreaded dress uniform day because of skirts and ballet flats. But it made waking up late for school a whole lot easier.

2. New people were a big deal

New people weren't a big thing. Maybe one or two a year to a grade, but after freshman year no one new really showed up, making the new kid a big deal.

3. You've been to school with most of your class since Kindergarten


Most of your graduating class has been together since Kindergarten, maybe even preschool, if your school has it. They've become part of your family, and you can honestly say you've grown up with your best friends.

4. You've had the same teachers over and over

Having the same teacher two or three years in a row isn't a real surprise. They know what you are capable of and push you to do your best.

5. Everyone knows everybody. Especially everyone's business.

Your graduating class doesn't exceed 150. You know everyone in your grade and most likely everyone in the high school. Because of this, gossip spreads like wildfire. So everyone knows what's going on 10 minutes after it happens.

6. Your hair color was a big deal

If it's not a natural hair color, then forget about it. No dyeing your hair hot pink or blue or you could expect a phone call to your parents saying you have to get rid of it ASAP.

7. Your school isn't like "Gossip Girl"

There is no eating off campus for lunch or casually using your cell phone in class. Teachers are more strict and you can't skip class or just walk right off of campus.

8. Sports are a big deal

Your school is the best of the best at most sports. The teams normally go to the state championships. The rest of the school that doesn't play sports attends the games to cheer on the teams.

9. Boys had to be clean-shaven, and hair had to be cut

If you came to school and your hair was not cut or your beard was not shaved, you were written up and made to go in the bathroom and shave or have the head of discipline cut your hair. Basically, if you know you're getting written up for hair, it's best just to check out and go get a hair cut.

10. Free dress days were like a fashion show

Wearing a school uniform every day can really drive you mad. That free dress day once a month is what you lived for. It was basically a fashion show for everyone, except for those upperclassmen who were over everything and just wore sweat pants.

Cover Image Credit: Authors Photos
Emily Spencer
Emily Spencer Feb 8, 2016
At Louisiana Tech

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5 Times That Kylie Jenner & Jordyn Woods Were Accurate Depictions Of You And Your BFF

Best friend? More like wife for life!

tiannat
tiannat Feb 21, 2019
83
views

Whether it's celebrity couples or celebrity best friends, everyone has that one pair that they are obsessed with. My best friend and I happen to be obsessed with Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods. Even though Kylie is a billionaire and Jordyn is extremely famous, unlike my BFF and I, we can relate to them on so many levels. They are fun, spontaneous, and they always have each other's backs. Trust me, once you start relating to them, you and your BFF will be DM'ing all the Kylie and Jordyn pics to each other with the caption, "Us."

1. They make a ton of memories together.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnuEpZ8BwWi/

Kylie and Jordyn have been BFF's since around 2013 and have made so many memories together. From matching tattoos, Kylie's own show "Life of Kylie" which featured Jordyn heavily, adopting a dog together, and of course, the birth of Stormi. Jordyn and Kylie have been linked to the hip and have tons of proof to look back on their friendship. I mean, who else makes an entire makeup collab with their BFF?

2. They support each other's accomplishments.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlGreSAnCfj/

Through all the accomplishments in my BFF's life, I'm front and center. Whether that's being accepted to her dream school or who knows, maybe your BFF is the youngest self-made billionaire. The last option is probably very unlikely, but for Jordyn, it happened! Best friend, Kylie Jenner, became the youngest self-made billionaire this year and Jordyn supported Kylie and her success along the way. Whether that was posting a picture on Instagram or collaborating with Kylie on her makeup line, Jordyn was there every step of the way!

3. Their Instagrams together are BFF goals.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BgZuiACHWGT/

They might as well be called the Instagram queens because my BFF's and I are constantly trying to replicate their outfits, poses, and pics! Basically, can they drop their secrets, please?

4. They have each other's backs through everything.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsyNWv8nNBt/

Through the crazy drama, love lives, and Kylie's pregnancy, these girls have stuck through it all. Kylie and Jordyn have been friends for multiple years. These years included the Kardashian/Jenner rise to fame, Kylie's makeup line, Jordyn's father passing away, and Kylie finding out she was pregnant with her daughter, Stormi. A true best friend stands by your side through anything and everything. I know that I would do anything for my best friend and have been there for her since day 1. This is just the rule to friendship and Kylie and Jordyn do a great job at abiding by it.

5. At the end of the day, they are normal best friends.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-3b6i1WQaI

Sure, Kylie and Jordyn live a fabulous lifestyle. We all can't attend Astroworld or be close friends with celebs like Jaden Smith and Anastasia Karanikolaou. But, at the end of the day, Kylie and Jordyn are just normal young adults. The girls love binging Netflix and trying out new recipes for Chrissy Teagan's new cookbook. I know that my BFF and I love watching marathons of New Girl and cooking up cute dinners for us. We basically live the same life as Ky and Jordy.

All in all, these girls have been through hell and back. As two very famous young women, their lives are constantly filled with crazy opportunities and events. So far, they have had each other's backs through thick and thin. Let's hope this friendship sticks together, forever.

tiannat
tiannat Feb 21, 2019
At Grand Canyon University

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