The last time we dipped down into Dixie on a road trip, I blogged about the surprising amount of road kill there. This week, my husband and I made a quick two-day trip to Alabama.
Here’s what your road-weary reporter saw on this trip into Dixie – interesting little old ladies of the South. Somewhere in southern Illinois, a woman with a license plate from somewhere in the South drove a sedan hovering in front of us for several miles. We noticed a rack on what looked like a deer in her back seat. Was it a deer in repose in her back seat?
And then, I asked a question that will remain in the “Top ten – Can you believe Mom asked that question?” list for our family. “Do you think it’s alive?” I hate it when I think out loud. I meant, “Do you think it’s a real dead deer?”
Of course, my husband got a great laugh from that question, but he then drove past her car so we could see what this woman’s backseat held. The driver was elderly, certainly able to get the Senior Discount anywhere, and she had lots of clothes piled up in the back seat. Either she was moving or she’d just made a haul at a yard sale somewhere. On top of the clothes pile sat a little tiny deer yard ornament, with an enormous rack – at least 8 points.
If you look real hard, you'll see a set of antlers on the right side of the back seat.
The next little old lady of the South sighting occurred at a gas station somewhere near Paducah. A woman passed us on the Interstate, exited in front of us and pulled up to a gas station before we did. She drove a Ford pickup with a flat-bottomed john boat tied with ropes to the bed, because the bed of the truck had rusted out. She had substituted the boat for the bed, and that new “bed” held a propane tank, fishing rods and junk.
For the third LOLS sighting, I had forgotten how much folks like to wear red (“Go Bama”) in Alabama, and of course, with Alabama in the big bowl game, folks down there wore their red even more predominantly – especially the granny at the Stein Mart, who appeared in red plaid Bama pajama bottoms, a red jacket, red socks and red shoes.
Someday I’m going to do that … say to “heck” with fashion and start dressing like an adult on Garanimals (“Easy to pair. Fun to Wear.”). Or, I’ll go out in mismatched camo, when nothing is in season. That’ll get folks talking.
~Barbara Baird
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
Oh Barb! You have me laughing as well with the deer question? You ARE TOO FUNNY! Sounds like quite the trip! Glad you’re back safe and sound!
Wasn’t there a movie about two guys that picked up a deer they hit and it came back to life in their convertable? Chris Farley movie, I think.