As sudden as a meteor streak - flashing into my headlights trots a large dog with a nice smile - in the middle of my lane!

Twisting to the left my car just missed him, but the car tailgating me hit him. Watching the horror in my darkened rear view mirror I saw him bounce off the front of their car again and again as helpless as a soccer ball bouncing and rolling in front of a bulldozer.

________

Returning to town from near Garland Ranch after dark I'd been driving the speed limit on Carmel Valley Road, but had acquired a tailgater after temporarily slowing to 35 mph for a construction zone near Scarlett road.

Going downhill approaching Mid-Valley a truck coming towards me flashed its lights. I quickly checked to see if my brights were on or if a headlight had burned out. Everything seemed OK so I was bit puzzled. That's when the smiling dog flashed into my life - and out of his own.

Having recently lived a few years in Carmel Valley Village I'd become familiar with drivers who don't think twice about speeding or passing in dangerous places, and especially those don't think at all about tailgating those of us who drive the speed limit.

Shaking a bit inside I drove back to see if there was anything I could do. In my mirrors I had seen the Tailgater slow down and probably stop, but I found they hadn't even taken the dog out of the roadway.

I carefully lifted up the still warm dog and carried him off the asphalt and laid him on the soil. Not knowing what to do I petted him as if that might somehow help.

He was a nice dog. Even in death he still had his happy smile.

Remembering his smile makes me think he'd forgive the tailgaters. I'm having a bit harder time with that forgiveness.

I wish I could forget the image of the dog being hit. I'd prefer to remember only the vision of his last happy carefree moments alive.

I'll bet the dog's killer has a nightmare worse than mine burned in.

Please consider reminding the Tailgater you know and love that they may get a horrible vision like this burned into their memory.

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