Jun 14 2005
I had been warned of the hazards of country driving, including how cows have to be scared straight by cattle grating in order to keep them in order. However, they never seem to be on the road. They are spectacularly unadventurous, and merely watch you with no particular interest as you drive by. Now, if you were a bale of hay, or a salt lick….
Live cows, however bored, are much, much better than dead deer. I came around a curve (the roads up here are curvier than Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe) and saw a dead fawn right in my way. It was too late, and too dangerous, to try and avoid it, so I actually drove right over the poor thing, squeaking with horror. I will never forget that horrible bump. I drove for a while with my hand over my mouth like the girly girl I am.
My fawn fright was nothing compared to my sister Beth’s early-morning brush with the Reaper, who was probably on his way to the hospital, too, to see if he could finally persuade Mom to come with him (he didn’t, as usual). Beth was driving across a bridge which is more than 100 feet above the river, and infamous among the locals after a logging truck jacknifed and went straight over the edge – and the driver survived*.
Anyway, Beth became aware that the idiot behind her was trying to pass her. The idiot was not aware that a logging truck was bearing down on his side of the road, so Beth, showing remarkable calm and judgment, braked hard enough to let the idiot pass her and the truck and live another day. The logging truck driver, undoubtedly recalling the infamous accident, was gesturing and swearing as he passed my sister. So both of my sisters were life savers that day, and only one of them needed coffee.
*My brother was one of the firefighters who rescued the driver. He said he’s never heard anyone scream like that. The community rallied around the driver, and little pails were set up at various stores to collect money to help with his hospital bills. Some guy actually got caught stealing from the collection pail at the Gas’n’Grub, and was arrested. Who says small town life is boring?
2 Responses to “”
I’m so a girl too when it comes to stuff like that. I hit a dog once (it ran off fairly unscathed) and I gasped and put my hand to my mouth and tried not to cry as I continued on my way in morning rush hour traffic. I was unsuccessful in the not crying part.
Eek. I’m a total freak when it comes to animals on the road (doesn’t really matter if they’re dead or alive– I’d put myself in danger before hitting one of them), but I have INSANE reflexes.
Once a squirrel ran out in front of me before I could stop, so I moved over about five inches thinking that I’d pass right over the top of him and he’d be between the tires. Well, the little bugger did a complete 180 and started running in the other direction, so I hit him BECAUSE I was trying to dodge him. I drove for about half a mile, then pulled over and sobbed hysterically for about 15 minutes. Then I cried all the way to the airport to pick up Brian. It’s the first animal I’ve ever hit and killed in my entire life, and I was furious at myself for weeks afterwards.