In the Summer 2012 issue of the Gustavus Quarterly, the last paragraph of Steve Walderhauser’s “From the Editor” text asks Gusties to send in our most surprising/ironic/funny/eerie/off-the-wall Gustie sighting. I hope this is an appropriate place to send in my sighting!
In December 2008, I took a road-trip with my mother to see relatives in Arizona. We stopped for a few hours at the Grand Canyon. It was the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and the park was packed – the rangers said they were seeing attendance rivaling that of July 4.
As we made our way through the sea of people to a place overlooking the canyon, I saw a familiar face. It took me a few seconds to process who I saw, and just as I walked passed him, I said “Rich?” “Yes?” he said.
Rich Hilbert’s Sociological Theory class has always stood out as the most life-changing class I have ever taken. Imagine my surprise when I saw one of my favorite professors on that icy December day in Arizona.
Afterwards, I immediately sent a text message to one of my best Soc/Anthro Gustie pals — “I JUST SAW RICH HILBERT AT THE GRAND CANYON!!”