Close Call

Yesterday was a frightening day for me, my family use to be able to brag that they have never gotten into a car accident until yesterday. It started off as a usual Saturday nothing to do but lay in bed at my house. I’m on the couch playing the ukulele when all of a sudden the door bell rings. I let my mom open the door since I’m really rocking out on my ukulele. I hear my mom saying, “Are you sure?” to the person at the door turns out its my next store neighbor Rita telling my mom the tragic news that my dad got into a car accident a few blocks away from the house. My mom quickly calls my dad asking if he was fine. He said he was fine, he also said he was fine when he accidentally stabbed himself in the hand while cutting some fruit, because of this I was worried if indeed he was fine or if he was just lying about it.

I asked my mom where he was and she said he was on Foster just past the church. I run right out the door wearing basketball shorts, flip-flops, and a tank-top, but right when I get next door my neighbors stop me and tell me whats going on with my dad. They gave me water bottles to give to my dad and they tell their son Raymond to come with me as well. No problem with that but Raymond took forever to find his sandals even though it was only a few minutes. When he finally comes out we start walking down Foster toward the accident. 

After a moment of walking I started to run and realized I couldn't run with sandals so I took them off and ran bare footed. I get to the seen of the accident to see my dads truck utterly damaged by a mini van. I go to my dad and give him the water bottles. Turns out he is indeed fine which makes me feel better about the situation. I start taking photos of the accident before the police arrive. The front bumper of the truck was indented into the wheel itself and the headlight was completely destroyed. The damage on the mini was a dent into the side of the car, not to much damage compared to the truck.

When the police came my dad explains his side of the story saying that he was going down Foster road and at the intersection the van makes a left hand turn and my dad hits the van. My dad has the right away since he doesn't have a stop sign unlike the lady driving the van. The police gave the lady the blame for the accident which made me happy. Me and my dad had to pry the bumper out of the wheel. The wheel itself wasnt damaged it was only the bumper that was in the way of the wheel. We were able to take the truck back home, but it is not able to be on the road since you cant make sharp turns with it. Although the truck is not able to be driven it could have been a lot worse.

Saved by an Unusual Fellow

Now I’m the type of person who is proud to say I have done things that are outside the norm, things that the average man only dream of. This is one of those memories.....

Finally its Friday! My restless soul is eager for the weekend not to stay at home and sleep in but to go on one of my favorite camping trips of all time Pissga. Now Pissga is close to Calico Ghost Town which is practically in the middle of nowhere. Now at first I was a little scared of the trip being canceled since there were so many storms and high winds but since we are boyscouts we face dangers head on and we are proud to state that. I get to the Lutheran Church where my troop meets together for a carpool. I got selected to go into my scoutmasters car something that I was excited for but yet dreaded. My scoutmaster is a big pudgy fellow who is notorious for always being right and will defend himself of being right until his last breath. As we drive on the freeway its not looking good constant rain makes me worried that the tunnels will over flow because thats what Pissga is a whole bunch of lava tubes that will satisfy your crave for adventure. After a few hours in the car we finally made it. Its actually sunny with slight cloud coverage from time to time. The wind starts banging on the door to the point you need to push and shove to get out the door of the car. My scoutmaster looks frantically on the internet to see just how fast the winds are. Turns out the winds are in the upper 60s and can have gushes of wind up to 75mph. This was something I haven't had the possibility to live through and now I have my chance. As soon as my scoutmaster lets us lose to the countless miles of barren lava tubes I group up with my best friend Sam Passanissi. Sam is the kind of kid who craves the same type of adventure that I crave the same type of adventure that the average child doesn't find entertaining. We put our helmets on and our gloves on and start walking. The wind is so strong that at some points you can lean against the wind and can be suspended in mid air for a few seconds. As we walk and find a tunnel we are accompanied by 2 boys, one being Sam’s brother and the other Taylor. Taylor is an unusual fellow who is always attached to me for some reason I try to be nice but he just makes me mad sometimes and I want him to leave me alone. Luckily Taylor came into some use though, as we were walking up a hill my foot gets stuck in between two rocks. As my foot got stuck a giant gush of wind is sent my way causing me to fall down the hill back first. Out of nowhere a hand grabs mine right before I plummet to the hard jagged volcanic rocks that fill the area. As I look up to thank my rescuer it turns out its the bland face of no one other then Taylor. Let that be a reminder to all that anyone can save you even the most unusual.

I came, I saw, I conquered

One of the most challenging things that I ever had to over come was a little trip called Philmont. Now Philmont Scout Ranch is a high adventure destination for the Boy Scouts of America. This Ranch is located in New Mexico and is 214 Square miles. Phillmont is a backpacking paradise with breath taking views and memories you will never forget. 

Philmont not only tests your physical strength but also your mental strength. The kids with the weakest mind are the first to snap at Philmont. You are out in the wilderness for two weeks hiking everyday to get to your destination. Everybody has a crew which is made up of 7 boys with 3 adults also a crew leader who is elected by the crew itself. I was the crew leader and held the most stress and responsibility throughout the 2 weeks.

The most challenging day was day 7 on the trail we had to hike over 2 mountains which were elevated at 11,730ft above see level. If you never gone backpacking you will never know how tormenting going uphill is. Your pack carries everything you will ever need and can weigh up to 50 lb. if your lucky.

Just picture yourself having to wake up at 5:00am every morning from a restless night. Now imagine yourself having to scramble out of your tent and having to pack up everything before the sun even touches you. You are packed up ready to get on the trail but wait you need to eat a breakfast since its the most important meal of the day. You reach into your backpack and pull out a plastic bag filled only with snacks but not a actual meal. 

Most of the food you need to shove down your throat since you need the nutrition to survive but you also don’t want to taste the food in your mouth. You put your pack on and while you put it on you realize this is day 7, the day you were never looking forward to in your entire Philmot adventure. 

The hike starts off up hill at a 30 degree incline hours pass and the sun is starting to beam down burning your neck if you are unprotected. The crew talks normally talks on the hikes but you couldn't spare the energy of talking we all knew it was going to be a hard day. We come to the top of the first mountain which is 10,000 ft we take and small break and eat our lunch of canned ham and expired saltine crackers.

The trail gets harder and harder as the 30 degree incline becomes a 40 degree incline then its practical becomes straight up hill having to grab onto trees before you lose your balance and topple of the hill. Your legs start to shake your lungs grasp for air but since the elevation is so high the air is 30 percent thinner so you can’t breath comfortably even when doing obsoletely nothing. I see the top of the mountain finally I get a sudden rush of energy and lungs full of air one by one we all start running up as if running from a nightmare that we all wanted to end. Happiness comes to my face, pride comes in my face since the fact is not everyone can do what I did! I came, I saw, I conquered.

Slept like a log last night........ Woke up in the fireplace.