Oct 23, 2018 3 min read

I saw a strange thing on my way to work the other day. A four-point buck was running up the road, followed by a light-colored sedan. I came upon him as I came down my driveway. I turned out onto the road behind the other car and watched, mouth agape, as a deer skipped past several opportunities to exit the blacktop. It traveled down our two-lane highway for somewhere in the neighborhood of a quarter mile. Only when oncoming traffic approached did he turn and jump the guardrail into the woods.

It was an odd way to start the morning.

Speaking of odd ways to do things, I recently drove four hours to take a nap. With hay season completed, there is more time for my husband to work on his car. He needed a few parts that, although light, were large enough to be cost prohibitive to ship, so we took a day trip to the Harrisburg area to pick them up.

As a general rule, I find it to be a real challenge to stay awake in the car. (I am a less-than-stellar co-pilot for this reason alone.) However, I had promised my husband I would do so, and I tried my best to fulfill said promise.

We stopped numerous times along the way to see sights, refuel and eat. This made it easier to stay awake, although, by the time we arrived, my eyelids were heavy. So, I struck a bargain. My husband was free to stay in the car parts store as long as he desired, and he could set his own cap on spending, if he would not be upset that I stayed in the car to sleep.

He agreed.

The lot was full when we arrived. I reclined my seat, pulled my hood up till it covered my eyes, and draped the light blanket from the backseat over my lap. Then I kissed him and told him to have fun.

The next thing I knew, he was back. All the cars that had previously been parked around us were gone. I chuckle to imagine their expressions when they saw me cuddled up, snoozing the day away.

We backed to the loading dock and received the parts he had ordered. All told, he has been gone a little over an hour. It was enough: I felt quite rested, and the car was full. I managed to stay awake for the entire return trip. (He did unload his parts alone while I headed to the house, however.)

We were both content with the outcome of the trip, despite the unconventional nature of it. No matter how odd folks may find it that I rode that whole way to not even see the main attraction, I still think the sight of the deer was stranger. Chances are good that I will be seen sleeping in my car again in the future, but I can’t say when the next time is that I’ll see a buck prancing down the highway.

Laura Zoeller can be reached at zoeller5@verizon.net.