Appalachian on the Prairie Column: ‘Watch for deer’

    I’ve seen plenty of pheasants cruising around Minnesota, as well as several bald eagles. Not so much for larger animals. Popular culture had me expecting more moose. I suppose they exist in Minnesota. I’ve never lived far enough north to witness them.
    We have had one or two brake-checks because of deer since we’ve lived here, and we haven’t seen too many deer other than last winter when the snow was deep a foraging for food became scarce. It, for whatever reason, prompted the deer to amass in insane numbers outside of Willmar. It by far holds the record for most deer that I’ve ever seen in one place. Those deer at least had the courtesy to remain far away from the road, which I respect from any and all wildlife.
    These thoughts on deer come from a seemingly unexpected source. Earlier in the month, a study was released listing the most loving states in the country. Minnesota managed to rank a lot closer to the bottom than I was expecting. Even more surprising because West Virginia was ranked first.
    By the women in my life, I’ve heard it quite a bit. My wife’s aunts would fight like cats and dogs but still managed to exchange “love yous” at the end of the day.
    For the men in my life, the phrase was almost nonexistent. I can’t recall my father saying it in any kind of capacity, nor his father, or any of the fathers from the generation before me.
    That’s not to say they didn’t care for anyone. They just had their own code.
    In West Virginia, deer don’t have the same road-crossing courtesy that their Midwestern brethren seem to have. The venison is much more villainous. It’s not without reason, however. Often, roads were constructed near the rivers where the land is more level. This creates a fairly significant obstacle for thirsty critters, and deer are the most likely to cause accidents.
    Indeed, West Virginia also ranks first in deer accidents. I’ve hit six there in my time driving. Most made minor dents in scratches, but one took me for $12,000 in repairs.
    It has become so ingrained in the region’s mentality, that most events after dark are ended, not by “goodbye,” but by “watch for deer.” It has become such a common phrase, that it has been dubbed the “Appalachian ‘I Love You.’”
    I have had my father sign off with that many times in my life, and I know other friends who have heard it and said it themselves. It’s an easy sign of caring to utter and a term of endearment that I can fully endorse.