Oh, deer!

I collected three young men for carpool, tucked them in beside the drowsy Drew, and headed out Buffalo Road towards 531. We had decided to brave construction traffic instead of taking the long way around (which uses a lot more gas even though you get there faster).

Just as I passed Jitters and right before the landscape business, a deer leapt out of the ancient church graveyard on the left hand side of the road, bounded right in front of the black pickup truck ahead of me, and sped down the driveway on the other side of the road disappearing into the woods back by the creek. At first I had thought it was a large dog bounding across the road. Then I realized it was bigger than a dog - a full grown doe.

"Wow!" I exclaimed. Four frowzy heads lifted from the seats, and mutters of "what?" and "where?" clattered about. Too late. The deer was long gone. They blinked and swiveled their heads around, hoping to catch a glimpse. Nothing. It was as if it had never happened. Even I was having trouble believing it wasn't some daydream.

I had to wonder what the deer was doing this close to civilization. I knew my sister, just a mile or so away, had them in her back yard (which runs a good acre in size) eating her garden plants and nibbling her apple trees. But there was nothing here really. Too much traffic, too many people. I hope this is not a sign of a tough summer. Oh, wait, that's what they say about a tough winter. Which it wasn't. At least not too bad.

Well, a startling flash of tawny critter is one interesting way to start a day. Regardless of whether anyone else saw it or not. At least we didn't hit it!