River
Jordan isa southerner
with a global perspective. She began her writing career as a playwright and
spent over ten years with the Loblolly Theatre group, where her original works
were produced, including Mama Jewels: Tales from Mullet Creek,Soul,
Rhythm and Blues, and Virga.
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NInja Deer and FtF Values Saturday, January 30, 2010
Yes, the rumors are true. I hit not one, not two, but three deer on the way home. My husband kept asking - 'Didn't you see them?'
'They were ninja deer I tell you. They appeared from nowhere."
And so they did. I've been watching deer all my life on these rural southern back roads. And every other wild creature that dared to run out my way. I swear I brake for field mice, low flying birds, squirrels, and all manner of furry beast. But this time the deer got me. Or, you might say, I got them. All three. At once. Mama says I should call Ripley's.
The funny part is - and if you are vegetarian skip this part please - My husband's first question was "Baby are you okay?" And I told him I was waiting on the police to file a report and that I was shook up but okay but that the beautiful jeep that everyone knows I love so much was hurt. He says - 'Don't worry, everything will be alright. We'll buy another freezer if we need to. I'm on the way to get the deer.' Really he does. Now, 1. I'm married to a grouper slaying mountain man who thinks about survival a lot. I know this because I once asked him if he got down to his last five dollars what would he do with it. He said - save it. 'Save it? till when?" "Till I had to spend it." 'On what?" "Bullets to kill something to eat." Hmmm, my last five dollars would be spent on a latte and something chocolate. Or I'd give it to the first homeless person I saw. Survival wouldn't be anywhere near my mind.
Okay - so the mountain man is seriously in his big truck to come get what I consider the Bambi's. We are not in survival mode mind you - I had just been to the grocery store and there is food in the jeep that now needs to be towed. But he is there for the deer and just about having to fight another man off who wanted to take those deer home himself and he got there first. I think husband pretty much said - my wife, her kills, my deer. Whatever cave man talk was needed the poor deers ended up at a neighbors house (yes, husband - thank you for not bringing them home to this tofu eating woman) where they became healthy food and part of the circle of life. I think husband then called all his friends to brag about the fact that I had bagged more deer at one try than they had all year. Trust me. I am so hoping this is the last time he is ever able to brag with such glorious passion.
For those of you who read this blog you know the jeep was a surprise after a long stay on the road where the old Nissan gave up the ghost and died and I had stayed hidden in a cabin infested with scorpions to write The Miracle of Mercy Land. Finding the jeep wrapped in a big, red ribbon when I came home was mighty good medicine for my tired soul. (And husband has such a great story of driving all through the night to the cornfields of Iowa to find just what I'd been wanting all year.) I named her Angel and hit the road again. And I have to say Angel and many more Angels were doing a great job of protecting this woman who made it home shaken and sore but alive. Three deer? Three? Wiped out and me left to tell about it. Well, you know I'm a thankful, thankful woman.
This happened later in the week after having a great social media jam session with some book people at the Nashville Pubic Library including writers JT Ellison, Darnell Arnoult, Susan Greg Gilmore, and Matthew Paul Turner. Agent Greg Daniel joined us to share his views of why agents think that authors should participate in social media and Counselor Ken Edwards wrapped the session by giving authors some great tips on still writing in the middle of all the social media distractions. Then we all walked to Demo's for a little face-to-face social grace. (ftf). Breaking bread together is still one thing we can't really do through the Internet. All Skype accounts aside.
Nashville has received a beautiful strange snowfall and the mountain man has grabbed a snow board to go hit the hills. I'm curled up thinking about words and road trips. About new radio shows, guests, and all the possibilities the year is bringing with it. About that new book cover I love for The Miracle of Mercy Land due out September 2010. And about the importance of relationships in my life be they developed through the graces of social media or with strangers on the street.
