Headlights, Deer, Boom!

The phrase "a deer caught in the headlights" has been a common one which haunts many a generation of young people learning to drive. It also, for that matter, haunts those of us who are writers, as it is such a nice phrase but also such a terrible cliche and we can't use it without people sneering at it.

At any rate.

The worst possible way to experience this is to symbolically become the deer, stare into the headlights, and wait for the impending crash.

This can be many things. No, you don't actually have to sit in the middle of the road with antlers on and wait for a truck to come at you. You simply have to find something to dread and realize that you're not waiting for it, you're staring into it as it comes barreling towards you.

Monday morning, you will be going to the dentist to have four teeth pulled. It is now Monday of the previous week, and you have exactly seven days to watch this approach.
The in-laws will be visiting.
The work evaluation papers are being passed out today.
Something horrible. Just fill it in, I'm not going to spell it all out for you.

In my case, it is the midterm.

You start the truck, I'll sit myself down on the pavement.

I should have studied more. Yes, I did study, don't give me that look, but I should have studied more. I could always study more. There could be a time I spent two weeks studying for one test alone, shirking every last assignment or life-necessity (showering, eating, deoderant) and I will still sit here and say to myself, "Why didn't I make it three weeks? And, geez, what reeks?"

Did I do all the terms? Do I remember all the essays? Who was that important guy?

The truck is now approaching.

As the truck approaches, you suddenly realize something. No matter what, that truck is going to hit you, so get comfortable and wait for it.

You will go to the dentist, the mother-in-law will make you loathe yourself, your peers will drive you into the ground, I will try my darndest and fail miserably. These are things we must accept and get used to.

Of course, I could always pass, but for the sake of the dark and dreary theme of this entry, I'll say that I'll fail.

You have to get used to this. You have to accept the fact that at the given time, you will stare into those headlights, and then it will be over.

They will pass. You're either flattened, or you've flattened yourself and let it pass over you without hitting you.

Get it over with. Stare deep into those headlights, you have no choice.
And wish me luck, while you're at it.