Oregon Trail Flashbacks

I'm going to go right ahead and date myself even more than I have repeatedly for the past ten years of blogging by asking you a question - remember how in Oregon Trail the deer ran but never got anywhere fast? Their little legs moved and moved but they seemed to take fooooorreeevvver to get across the screen.

THAT HAPPENED TO ME IN REAL LIFE.

I was driving down a road and a deer decided to cross. It was running as fast as it could, moving its legs at top speed, but HOLY SMOKES IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. It took that deer a good ten minutes to cross the street, or at least it seemed like ten minutes because the whole time I was standing on the brakes and hoping to avoid an accident.

The good news was that there were no other drivers nearby. The bad news was that Mila was in the car.

"Ook, mom! There's a reindeer!"

YOU DON'T SAY, KID.

"Is that one of Santa's reindeer?"

THAT'S ADORABLE. SHOOOOOOSH.

"I bet that Santa's reindeer. He should go home. He must be hungry."

HE'S NOT GOING TO BE HUNGRY WHEN I CRASH INTO HIM.

"I made reindeer food. I can share with him. Can we go home and get Santa's reindeer some reindeer food?"

YOU'RE STILL TALKING AND THAT DEER IS STILL RUNNING ACROSS THE ROAD AND DAAAAAAAMMMMIT.

"He's so cute. I like reindeer. They're so cute."

THEY'RE CUTER WHEN THEY AREN'T GUTTED BY A CAR.

"Reindeer are soft. I like to touch them."

MY CAR NEEDS TO NOT TOUCH HIM.

"Can we stop and pet the reindeer?

STOPPING WOULD BE GREAT!

And then, FINALLY, the car came to a complete stop and the deer made it the rest of the way across the road. I said a silent "thank you" to the universe that the road wasn't icy and that the only damage was to my sanity. As we continued on our way, I finally said actual words out loud. I hadn't replied to any of Mila's questions because I was focused on stopping and I swear keeping quiet helps that happen faster. We chatted about the deer all the way home, with her continuing to be oblivious to the fact that we came within inches of murdering her friend.

This morning, as we jumped in the car, Mila asked to go visit "Santa's reindeer" again. She even told me which direction to turn.

At least somebody gets some enjoyment out of nearly crashing into the slowest running deer ever.

Comments

[Suzanne]

Glad that you and Mila didn't hit Rudolf! That would've been catastrophic (and I know you've been there, done that).

But the Oregon Trail mention? Too perfect! Husband and I were just talking a couple of days ago about everyone dying of dysentery, and how your wagon would overturn as you were floating the river, or your oxen would die... The kids (those post-2000 babies!) were incredulous that we'd played a game that looked like that! Gotta love the memories!