It's look-out-for-deer season

Last weekend, my husband and I hit a deer while driving home from town. I am surprised this was just my first time hitting one, too, because they're everywhere, it seems.

I heard on the news this morning of a deer, out of nowhere, jumping through a window at a restaurant in a more urban area that's not heavily wooded.

I suspect the deer population is up and it's going to be one of those years where we hear of more accidents than usual caused by the jumpy creatures.

This scares me because the quality of driving going on has gotten ridiculous enough, without deer, especially on country roads. Our society has become so dependent on texting (I should remind you it's illegal to text and drive), tweeting, Facebook -- the whole "I can't be alone for one second" mentality that we're totally distracted. Mix that with jumping deer flying around all winter ... yikes!

I have to put my two cents in here about all of these new networking services. I hate them! I quit Facebook, practically, and I refuse to use Twitter because I became completely annoyed by people's fascination -- obsession -- with them. I like my privacy and I really don't think it's the best use of my time to have to log on to tell someone I'm walking to the kitchen to get a drink of water. Or what we're watching on television. Or how my dog feels today. Or what I'm going to wear to work tomorrow. Or, or, or ...

Give me a break.

If there's one great thing that's come from these networking services it's that I've gained an entire new appreciation for my personal privacy. My husband asked me if I wanted a new iPhone. He, who does dabble in Facebook and loves texting, still, said, "But it has tons of functions!"

"Exactly!" I replied. "I wish my current phone didn't even have a function for texting."

I miss the days where we had the freedom to leave the house, go shopping, run errands, whatever -- in total peace -- returning home only when we're actually ready. Nowadays, our culture, and its instant gratification mentality, expects answers and responses, whether it be to phone calls, texts, e-mails (that archaic form of communication from ancient times) or whatever, immediately.

Of course if I'm the one trying to track down my husband none of the above applies. In that case, cell phones are great!

In seriousness, though, I believe we have lost focus because of too many communication devices.

Driving on windy, country roads can be tricky enough, without having to worry about other people trying to collect new "friends" from high school while driving.

For example, last week Jack and I were driving down the road when he really got me.

"Look, there's a hand sticking out from under that hay bale," he said, pointing out our neighbor's Halloween decorations and trying to scare me at the same time.

My response, "Look, there's a tree 10 feet away that we're about to hit if you don't keep your eyes on the road!"

I have started paying closer attention and I think I've narrowed it down to about every other car I meet on my road being on the other side of the yellow line. A couple or months ago, I literally got run off the road due to a distracted driver who didn't look up in time to move over to their side.

I'm a little more precautionary now, as an expectant mother, but please, folks, put your phones away, find a radio station you like and watch out for those deer -- and my green Jeep!

-- Sadie Fowler is lifestyles editor for the Times-Gazette. She may be reached at sfowler@t-g.com or 684-1200.