On a tour of Eastern Washington, the Pope took a couple of days off
his
>itinerary to
>> visit the Snake River Canyon on an impromptu sightseeing trip.
>>
>> His 4X4 Popemobile was driving along the beautiful river when there
was an
>> enormous commotion heard just off the shore. He rushed to see what
it was
>> and upon approaching the scene, the Pope noticed in the water a
hapless
>man
>> wearing a University of Washington football jersey, struggling
frantically
>to
>> free himself from the mouth of a 12 foot sturgeon. At that moment a
>jetboat
>> containing three men wearing W.S.U. football jerseys roared
>> into view from around the river bend. Spontaneously, one of the men
took
>aim
>> and fired a harpoon into the sturgeon's side, immobilizing it
instantly.
>The
>> other two reached out and pulled the U.W. man from the water and
>> then, using long clubs, beat the fish to death. They bundled the
bleeding,
>> semi-conscious man into the boat along with the dead sturgeon and
then
>> prepared for a hasty retreat when they heard frantic shouting from
the
>> shore. It was the Pope and he summoned them to the river bank.
>>
>> After they reached shore, the Pope went into raptures about the
rescue and
>> said, "I give you my blessing for your brave actions. I had heard
that
>there
>> were some bitter hatred between the alumni of U of W and WSU, but
>> now I have seen with my own eyes this is not true. I can see that
W.S.U.
>> society is a truly enlightened example of true harmony and could
serve as
>a
>> model on which other states could follow". He blessed them all and
drove
>off
>> in a cloud of dust.
>>
>> As he departed, the harpooner asked the others, "Who was that?"
>>
>> "That," one answered, "was his Holiness the Pope. He is in direct
contact
>> with God and has access to all of God's wisdom.
>>
>> "Well," the harpooner replied, "That may be he knows nothing about
>Sturgeon
>fishing."
> Is the bait holding up or do we need to get another one?"
>>
_________________________
Chasing old rags 500 miles from home.