2009年上半年

今年實在很不順，這種不順就像走在路上，即便再怎麼小心還是會踩到黃金一樣，非常地倒楣。我想以下這件事可以做為代表(事實上，我也可以隨便舉出一籮筐的楣事，但楣事只會帶出楣人的存在→我）

事情是這樣的～礙於回台時間的逼進，為免借書期限過期，不管是校際借書或是本校的圖書，我一律在回台前二、三天分批歸還。講到這個就要先說說學校圖書館的配置。IUB的總圖有分西側及東側，西側的某些樓層是24hr開放的，而東側由於是藏書／借書地，除了weekend及特殊日子，通常也開放至晚間十點。而那陣子我大概都在東側待到十點，有時會待到十二點，這時就得轉移陣地前往西側。礙於有些書籍我還必須查看，所以當日帶來要歸還的書籍，除非沒有需要先行歸還東側櫃台，否則回去時再歸還於圖書館外側的24hr歸還箱。好了～那二、三天我大概就重覆那樣的歸還行為：先行還的交給櫃台，十點過後的書籍放入return box。待查圖書館借書資料顯示一切歸還，我也安心回台。某日，我家先生打電話來告知我，我被罰款$83，要我與圖書館確認，於是開始展開魚雁往返的信件聯繫。我告知對方，所有的書籍我如期歸還，怎會有罰款?結果好死不死，這件罰款的書籍又是校際借閱的書籍(是的，我之前有一件事情也是因為校際借書，歸還後無端告知我，他們沒有收到，然後又展開一系列的書信往返....這也是一件楣事），IU叫我與對方聯繫。而對方之後也回了一封信，如下：

Yes, you did return the item. However it was completely soaked when returned. Bloomington staff, while holding the item, called the South Bend campus to let us know that the item was returned to them wet. It was damaged beyond repair so a replacement fee was billed to your account for the item.
If you would prefer to buy us a copy to replace the item (which might be cheaper than our flat replacement fee), we would accept the exact some edition with ISBN 0521297249 (pbk.).

如你所見，他們收到的書是被水浸泡過的，而且無法修復，我必須罰款或是再買一本新的給他們～～這實在是見鬼了，我長那麼大，借書無多次，習慣良好，只有別人把我的書弄爛，沒有弄爛別人的書，實在是天大的冤枉，愈想愈鬱卒，怎會碰到這種鳥事。於是，我也不管文法對不對，寫了落落長的信，如下：

Its unexpected for me. When I returned this book, its a good condition, I really don't know why it happened.Due to I have the travel for two month began on June 3,so I take them(not just this one book) to IU main library before that day but I don't remember where I return them( in the counter or outside box?).If I return outside,I remember one day's weather wasn't good and the box was so crowded,so I put the books more inside,I think you received wet,maybe happen when someone returned books,unexpected my returned was slipping outside~this is one reason I can thought.But it wan't my fault.I really don't know why have the fine I need to pay.I am out of luck -!-. Now I don't know how to do? If I pay the fine, it means I make the book wet , but I didn't,if not,your book wasn't good as usual?I really have no ideal.and now I am not in the U.S. can't express clearly face to face.I really want you know this situation.

我告知他們唯一可能解釋的情況就我印象，是某日天候不佳，return box又塞滿了書，會弄溼的唯一可能，就是我還的那本掉了出來，就是這麼倒楣。所幸，我那封文法不全的書信，對方居然看懂，也能理解這種情況發生的可能，暫時不收我罰款，如下：

I contacted Bloomington regarding your issue. Apparently your scenario is very possible. Bloomington’s policy is that until a staff member touches the books, you are responsible for the items. However, I feel that the books in a box are the responsibility of the library. I am going to credit your account for the item. In the future, in view of the Bloomington Libraries policies, I would suggest hand delivering them if the boxes are over-filled and the weather is bad.

但是，你以為事情就解決了嗎? 不。在那幾天後，我又收到學校的罰款，我以為我誤解對方的意思，然後又寫信，結果是，學校系統上帳目未為即時反應事後情事，於是，要我不予理會，要過幾天，帳目才會反應正確～果然沒幾天，我的罰款就歸零了。事情至此才解決。

光這件事情，雙方往返的email就達十三封。生活上如果常常要處理這種出奇不意又鎖碎的事情，實在挺令人厭煩。我的2009年上半年，這種無端滋生而層出不窮的事件，就這樣一直如火如荼上演著。

而～明天是下半年開始，不知霉運可否就此遠離呢～～阿彌陀佛