Why did CJ get into his Early Decision dream school? Was it his Math SAT score? His leadership experience? His 10th grade scholar-athlete award?
In fact, it was probably none of the above – It was most likely a divine intervention. Here is the story:
Just before Thanksgiving a friend from graduate school, BL (Brilliant Linguist), stayed with us for several days while he was lecturing at UCLA. BL lives in Darwin, Australia and is considered the world's foremost authority on aboriginal languages. While here BL transferred some data to my computer so he could print out a fascinating doctrine about Indigenous knowledge, digital technologies, and remote community capacity.
The next day BL emailed me from LAX to tell me that he had left his flash drive in my computer. I asked if he wanted me to FedEx it to him, and he answered that snail mail was okay. He had another copy of the file, but he did need the keychain that was attached to it. The keychain, with an image of Mother Mary on one side and Jesús on the other, is a souvenir from the Sanctuario del Milagroso de Buga, Colombia. It is also clearly a powerful good luck object, even for those of us who are as un-Catholic as they come.
Here is our email exchange:
In a message dated 11/26/2008 10:40:41 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, Brilliant Linguist writes:
Did I leave my NS plugged into your computer?
Sent: Friday, 27 November 2008 5:12 PM
To: Brilliant Linguist
Subject: Re: Nuestra senora
Yes – I just found your NS – uh oh! Do you need it?
In a message dated 11/26/2008 2:32:34 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, Brilliant Linguist writes:
Don't really need my NS urgently – I think I have everything covered – but am psycho-emotionally attached to it so if you send it by snail mail I'd be grateful.
Sent: Thursday, 27 November 2008 9:06 AM
To: Brilliant Linguist
Subject: Re: Nuestra senora
Maybe I should hold onto NS until CJ is supposed to hear from X University (12/15), then send it to you for Xmas. How does that sound?
In a message dated 12/18/2008 4:52:46 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, Brilliant Linguist writes:
Okay, how did NS do with her intercessions on behalf of CJ? Did he make it to X University? Sorry you missed our party – it poured with monsoonal rain and has continued to do so all week – in fact there’s a cyclone warning out. Hope you have happy hols. Pls forward NS to me soon as she is of no further use to you.
Sent: Friday, 18 December 2008 5:12 PM
To: Brilliant Linguist
Subject: Re: Nuestra senora
It worked!!! He got into X University…A true miracle. He's over the moon.
Will send her back to you to prevent you from being swept away by the cyclone, but will have to borrow her when we start the college process again.
In a message dated 12/18/2008 7:22:08 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, Brilliant Linguist writes:
Wow congrats to CJ (and to NS)
Meanwhile the cyclone is about to hit.
More if we survive.
Sent: Friday, 19 December 2008 10:45 AM
To: Brilliant Linguist
Subject: Re: Nuestra senora