The Old River Road....

that winds its way through the countryside is as much a 'state of mind' as it is a reality. At least it is for me. The coming summer will see the beginning of my 24th year of following where that road leads me. It has become entwined with the way I view my life, my world. I no longer live at the lower end of that old road. I moved to the upper end in the 20th year. Not all roads lead you home, but for me, this one does.The old river road was very dark and cold last night. Nothing at all like this early summer picture. I can not take a picture of the road at night. Even my attempted 'moon' pictures have failed.
Last night my friend,the road, lay before me, stretching in darkness. I drive slowly at night, my eyes do not serve me well, but I manage. I have weighted the risk and found my desire to see my friend to be stronger. Jean and I had "our" Christmas yesterday. It was lovely. She and my memories are the "home" I find at the lower end of the old river road.
But last night the road had something additional in store for me. Something that has never happened before. And...actually...it happened so fast last night as to be almost 'not' believable.
You only meets a few cars on that road late at night. Except for Friday night when a game is being played at the gym or football field. Then there is a traffic.
As I drove along, radio silent, stars glimmering in the distance, my surroundings were dark enough that the moon made a huge statement, as it hung bucket-like, in the western sky. I was admiring the moon, quite a lot. But I noticed off in the distance a car was coming towards me, beyond a curve.
I lowered my headlight, slowed down even further, keeping my eye on the right hand white line...didn't want to go into the ditch.
There is the house of a retired county police officer just at the crest of that little hill, and it was next to his house the two cars would meet and pass. But what to my soon-to-be-astonished eyes should appear but a lovely, magnificent LARGE male deer! At the almost EXACT instant the front end of my car came even with the front end of the oncoming car, the deer passed between us! It couldn't have been more than a split second difference in timing. It all happened so fast you almost would think you had dreamed it.
The first bound(which I didn't see because of the hill and the curve)took him across the path of the oncoming car, and as my car almost met the other car, he bounded one more time, clearing the hood of my car and making contact with the hillside on my right.
Astonishing! I'm still amazed. A person just never knows what that old country road that leads you home might have in store for you *VBS* A gift from the Universe when you least expect it.