The Buck Stopped Here .....

So, as you all gathered we had a bit of a run in with a deer.

We had the truck loaded with 25 dogs,3 people (myself, Lisa and Chris) and were heading into the vet at 8:30 Monday when just a mile north of the Perryvale turnoff a big buck deer came charging out of the woods. By the time any of us spotted him, it was already too late. He was moving far too fast and we were too close. I grabbed the wheel tight and braced for the hit.

He hit hard just behind the passenger side headlight, took out the headlight, bumper, front quarter panel, and passenger door. Thankfully, there was no injuries to the dogs or people on board. The deer, however, was killed on impact. It seems running head first at full speed into a fully loaded tonne and a half truck isn't a wise thing to do. Go figure.

Unfortunately, the truck did sustain some damage - around $8000 worth actually.

For awhile it looked like the damage was going to interfere with alot of our race plans for the winter, as all of the autobody shops in the area were booked into January or February, however thanks to our friend Rick Austin, the truck is heading to Red Deer in the morning where the collision shop at Pike Wheaton Chev Olds has committed to having it done for us in time to leave for Alaska as originally scheduled. I can't even begin to say how relieved and thankful I am.

While it is easy to bemoan the whole accident and whine about how 'unlucky' it was, I must say that really the only thing I am is grateful. Things could have been so much worse - so much worse. And besides, one should never look at 'luck' in a 'snapshot'.

I was a huge 'Northern Exposure' fan and would like to share one of my favorite stories from the series.

The Warrior -

[There was] a warrior who had a fine stallion. Everyone said how lucky he was to have such a horse. "Maybe" he said.

One day the stallion ran off. The people said the warrior was unlucky. "Maybe" he said.

The next day the stallion returned, leading a string of fine ponies. The people said it was very lucky. "Maybe" the warrior said.

Later, the warrior's son was thrown from one of the ponies and broke his leg. The people said it was unlucky. "Maybe" the warrior said.

The next week, the chief lead a war party against another tribe. Many young men were killed. But, because of his broken leg, the warrior's son was left behind, and so was spared.

~~~From "Bolt from the Blue" as told by Marilyn Whirlwind, in Northern Exposure.
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'Luck' is a complicated subject.

Still feeling 'lucky',

Karen