“It’s just material; it can be replaced.”

“Look on the bright side; at least you’re safe.”

“Did the deer survive?”

The feedback could go on and on.

Bottom line up front: On the drive back to my work location Sunday, a herd of deer leapt into the driver’s side of my car as I was driving south on HWY 140, and that side of my car currently resembles the face of a losing MMA fighter who dared step into the ring with Jon “Bones” Jones. Somewhat less than aesthetically pleasing, one might say.

The opening remarks were all ones well-intentioned folks shared with me.

I agree; my vehicle is indeed material, and it can and will be replaced. Yes, the bright side is that I’m uninjured, as far as I can tell. Did the many deer survive? I do not know; they were not on the road by the time I was able to get my vehicle off the side of the highway and call the police. Perhaps they survived, but some of their hair (and other ‘evidence’ of their impact) is very much still on my car.

So, this is the second time I’ve been driving and collided with deer. And I cannot say it’s any more enjoyable this time than it was last time.

I had to call into work and ask for grace from my boss for a pass in order to get a rental and have my car relocated to a local body shop.

I had to miss a training session where I was to teach soldiers about resilience (how ironic, right?).

I have a flight out in the morning at 5:30 a.m. to the Midwest to teach up there this week.

I have papers to grade for my college and university students.

But I also have learned that I’d be a wreck (sorry, could not resist the pun) without my Carrie Jane (she was a rock during the whole messy event), and friends who helped in a moment of crisis via sharing one of their vehicles, my local police department (they were great), the rental car place, and (so far) the body shop and my insurance company.

I did get a rental and was able to drive back to my work location 200 miles from my home of record.

I rescheduled today’s training for next week. I am indeed uninjured. Life will go on.

It’s one thing to “brief the slides” on frustration and resilience, and it’s quite another to implement them.