Thank You Dr.

Rice
by

A. Rod Paolini

July 2, 2011

Thank You Dr. Rice

I was standing at 10th and Pennsylvania Avenue. It was a bright, sun shiny day, and I wanted to enjoy it for a few moments before entering the dungeon of the Department of Justice Building. As I gazed about and let the sun warm my face, I noticed a man walking up Pennsylvania and then suddenly recognized him. It was Dr. William Rice, my physical chemistry professor from Beloit College. Stunned, I didnt approach him but just watched as he turned south on 10 th . It was though I had stumbled upon a wild animal in the forest, and so I wanted to observe him in his natural habitat. I followed him one block where he entered the National Museum of Natural History. What was he doing there? Dr. Rice, or Wild Bill as we chemistry majors used to call him, was one of my favorite professors at Beloit. He was also a major influence in my life; however, unlike most mentors who inspire and lead their protgs in some endeavor, Wild Bill had enabled me to see that I was not cut out for a career in chemistry. He gave me insight that was beneficial to my lifeand to the field of chemistry. But he had always treated me with respect, and he had taken an interest me, which I greatly appreciated. And so he was a mentor in my life if not my career. The next day, I was prepared to meet him, and so at the same hour, I waited for him at the same spot. I accosted him and he greeted me warmly. We had a brief chat in which he explained that he was now working at the museum. As per usual in Washington, we concluded by saying, Lets do lunch, and so we did a few days later. I described my life of the last twenty years from the time of my graduation in 1962. I made some remark to the effect that I didnt quite fit the political realities of my home town, the City of Chicago, and so my family and I had moved to Washington, D.C. Dr. Rice said something to the affect that he had a similar experience at Beloit. This was his only explanation as to how he had come to live and work in Washington, D.C. So what are you doing at the museum, I asked? He explained that he was researching the etymology, that is, the origin of the names of flowers. I immediately thought of those esoteric Latin names such as achillea millefolium or equpaorium maculatum, but no, these were the common names. For example, he said, Was Queen Anns Lace named after Queen Anne of Scotland and England, or Queen Anne Boleyn, a wife or Henry VIII, or Anne of Cleves, also a wife of Henry VIII? Again, I was somewhat stunned. My reaction wasthought I didnt say so: Who the hell cares? I was somewhat disheartened to discover that a man who I greatly admired for his brilliance in chemistry was now devoting his time to such a worthless endeavor. About six years later, I attended my 25th reunion at Beloit College. I learned a little more of Dr. Rices departure from a classmate and professor at the college. I was told that Dr. Rice would give forth long-winded diatribes at faculty meetings that were intended to lampoon the college administration. Also, he had a romantic relationship with a young woman, whom I later met. I never thought or tried to gage Dr. Rices age, but what ever it was, she was considerably younger. But I digress.

At this reunion, my classmates and I wandered about the campus, recalling past events and impressions, and we ended in the college book store. I was reviewing titles with my friend Jim Moon, who grabbed a copy of a work by Joseph Campbell. I think you would like this, he said. Its on mythology. Its fascinating. I bought the book, and it changed my life. I became fascinated with Greek mythology though primarily with its origins and the central myth and metaphor of the mother goddess, the religion of the aborigines of Greece. I compared these early, pagan religions with that of Christianity, noting the use of the same symbols but changed meaning. I realized that there were aspects of this ancient religion that resonated with my own thoughts and feelings about spirituality, and so I found a new spiritual realm to explore. From my reading of mythology, which has its origin in legendary events and customs, I expanded to the reading of Greek history, ancient Roman history, Eastern Roman or Byzantine history, and finally Turkish and Ottoman history. In my spiritual journey with Joseph Campbell, two statements resonated with my own life; quote: "Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it...." and We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. I had found meaning in religions and civilizations that were no longer in existence, though their legacy still remains, I would argue. When I tell people of my interests, Im sure they think to themselves: Who the hell cares. I take comfort in knowing that I am in the same company as Wild Bill Rice.