By John Shea
May 28, 2009
I need to preface this Field Note to explain that, at the time of this research, I was in my first year of Jesuit regency, which is a stage in formation to become a Jesuit priest. My regency assignment was Gonzaga University in beautiful Spokane, WA where I taught in the Biology Department and conducted research while living in the Jesuit community. The rector served as the superior of this community.
My research focused on using larval trematodes as indicators of ecosystem health. Thus, I took students to various lakes and creeks to sample for snails. Knowing how dirty field work can be, I usually used one of the two Jesuit community cars that were a little on the dusty side, but both had been signed out. The rector was out of town, but he had a SUV that he used to go skiing. So, I asked the assistant rector if I could use the rector's car to sample snails. He gave permission and we went out on the first day. I parked on the side of the relatively busy Harrison bridge in Idaho to sample. My three students and I descended a hill to sample the lake adjacent to the road. We were all in our waders quietly sampling snails when we heard a loud crash. I looked up and saw a boat on top of a car. I thought to myself, “Well, that's unfortunate. There's a boat on top of a car.” This thought was immediately followed by, “Oh no, that's really unfortunate. That's my car!” Then the penny dropped as I thought, “No, wait, that's extremely unfortunate. That's the rector's car!”
I saw a red truck drive by, slow down and come back. Apparently, this truck was transporting the boat on a trailer when the trailer became unhitched at the exact moment when its trajectory would send it careening into the rector’s car. Of course, we only added to the surreal situation when we come up to inspect the damage while wearing waders and carrying vials of snails. I didn't get a picture of the boat on top of the car (I was in too much shock to think to get a picture), but we did take a few shots after we got the boat off the car. Fortunately, the driver was very apologetic and realized that it was completely his fault. The insurance company took care of the repairs. And we were able to (slowly) drive the car back.
When I got back to Gonzaga University, I had to inform the assistant rector. Fortunately, I had the entire drive back to formulate my response: “Let me preface this by saying that no one was hurt, the car still works, and it wasn't our fault. But the rector’s car was in a boating accident.”
The entire community (including the rector when he returned) thought this was hilarious. For years, I was known as the regent who trashed the rector’s car.
Comments