It's 10:39 a.m. and already today has been... filled with unexpected events.
It was a typical morning. I awoke, drank some coffee, and slowly got ready for school. It's a dreary morning. The drizzle started as I pulled out of my garage. Traffic was flowing as I journeyed up busy Carpenter Rd to the more scenic Hogback Rd.
I took a left onto Huron River Drive, which is a very narrow, shoulder-less 2-lane winding road, with trees and marshland on either side of it as it carves its way through the river valley. The speed limit is 35 mph, and no passing is allowed. But, apparently these laws don't apply to large SUVs. The guy behind me pulled out alongside me to pass me. He was going probably close to 50. He narrowly made it back into the lane before getting hit by an oncoming car that he didn't see because THERE'S NO FREAKING PASSING ON A TINY WINDING ROAD!
So, that was interesting. I called Juggles to report the idiocy of certain SUV drivers, and continued my drive, turning right onto Huron Parkway, a faster 4-lane divided road. As I was approaching my Michigan left to get to my parking lot, a baby deer pranced out in front of me. I exclaimed to J, "Wow, that was close!" and marveled at his cuteness, all the while thinking that 10 am is a strange time for a deer to be prancing across roads.
I looked back in my rear view mirror just in time to see him get torn to bits by another vehicle. I burst out crying, of course... He was just a baby. I watched him as he slammed up on the car's hood and almost lost a leg in the ordeal. The best I can hope is that he died instantly and didn't suffer.
It was horrible. Absolutely horrible. Poor baby deer. :(
As I pulled into my parking spot, bawling, I kept wondering what I should do for the baby deer. Should I go back and see if it's still alive and try to help it? Of course, reality hit and I realize there was very little chance the little creature could have sustained injuries of that nature and lived. What should I do...?
I called my mom, knowing that she'd be able to provide me with compassionate words in this situation. She reminded me that though this is a sad, sad situation, we should take this moment (and every one) to celebrate life, to smile upon it, and to be compassionate to those around us.
So today is for you, little baby deer. Your death was brutal and your life short, but I will do what I can to commemorate your little prancing spirit on this cloudy and dismal day.
