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| This is a deer I 'shot' last year quite close to home. |
It was a good morning. I woke up early, lingered in bed until the alarm went off, took a shower, made my lunch and with time to spare got in the car to drive to work. Three and a half kilometers further and the morning wasn't so good anymore. Out of the grey wet dusky morning two deer had appeared wanting to cross the road. The one I was driving on.
I never saw them. Until a flash and a bang. The first minute and a half was spent trying not to cry and getting my adrenaline levels down again. Then I phoned the police and very shakily told them I had hit a deer (I only hit one). Several questions later and I was out of the car trying to locate the deer. I found it, only 25 meters behind the car, laying in the bushes beside the road.
Anybody knowing anything about wildlife knows that wild animals don't stay right beside the road. Ever. Unless they are hurt. Since I had hit the deer, it was obviously hurt. It did get up in the end, but didn't move far. By then the police had put me through to the wildlife department.
The man wanted to know where I was and after telling him as much as I could and marking the spot with a reflecting vest, he told me I could leave, I didn't need to stay. I got to work with ten seconds to spare before being late.
The thing that was hardest for me was the near-exact copy of the French accident. Of course then I was doing 100 km/h (60 miles/h) with a bus and now I was doing half that with a small car. But the flash and the bang were horrid.
I did debate with myself whether I should work, but I did do so in the end and it all went fine. It was only when I drove home tonight via the same road that my heart was beating in my throat again.
The fate of the deer? Most likely it was killed and will end up on somebody's plate at some point in the near future.
I am happy you are OK, Mara. I feel for the deer but when they are on the road it can be impossible to avoid them. It is good that you managed the day. I hope you will be able to sleep tonight.
ReplyDeleteI think I will be able to sleep okay. I hope so at least. It was just bringing back bad memories and the shock of it happening. I hope I never have it happening again, but I live in the country and deer do roam.
DeleteOh nose, must haf shaken you right up, so sad
ReplyDeleteLoves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
Hari OM
ReplyDelete...and that just brought back my own memories of exactly the same from 30 years back... just shows that trauma never really leaves, it is only managed. The little buck I hit had disappeared by the time I got back from the nearest farm to report... (no mobiles!) and the farmer said he would take care of it if he found it. There was absolutely no avoiding the thing - and it is just such a horrible feeling. That you managed to work was a very good thing though - be kind to yourself for the next wee while Mara. Hugs, YAM xx
It really does hit home that things have a way of coming back to you. Good and bad!
DeleteSo sorry for the flashback brought on by the untimely run of the deer. Hope the meat finds its way to a needed home. Also, hope you recover soon.
ReplyDeleteThe meat will probably find its way to the table of some of the friends of the person who was sent to kill it. Deserving or not!
DeleteThat would make me quite shaky as well! I'm glad you're okay. I'm always worried about hitting a deer when I'm driving on country roads, but I haven't yet. I did hit a really big raccoon once, and I felt horrible!
ReplyDeleteOur mom worked at an insurance company and she says that it is amazing how often deer get hit. Thank goodness you are OK and did not get injured!
ReplyDeleteKeep Calm & Bark On!
Murphy & Stanley
They are so unpredictable.
DeleteOh, that is kind of sad.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. I can only imagine the feeling in your heart. BIG {{{HUGS}}} Take care.....
ReplyDelete