Early this morning, around 5:45 a.m., I finished my final essay for my major seminar class. What had consumed me for four full days now stood behind me. It was, most likely, the greatest 9-page paper ever written. Certainly, it was the greatest thing I had ever done in my life. I was triumphant.

And so, in my dazed and dozy state of jubilation, I attempted to save the priceless document. I noticed I had saved the file “pluralism final.docx” in my “Downloads” folder, and since I wanted it in “Documents,” I clicked and dragged it. No sooner had I released my thumb from the clicker than a short message appeared:

The file “pluralism final.docx” already exists in this location. Would you like to replace it? Yes    No

I unthinkingly clicked “Yes,” and that’s when everything started to go horribly, horribly wrong. When I tried to open my newly saved file, what else should appear but the rough, rough draft I had written in the earliest stages of the paper! (We’re talking 1.5 pages out of 9)

I began furiously searching my computer in the hopes of retrieving my lost masterpiece. But alas. “Pluralism final.docx” was nowhere to be found. It had been ousted by an unwelcome intruder. I threw on some clothes and ran flabbergasted out into the cool, crisp morning in search of technological support.

There’s more to tell, but as it stands now, the file has been deemed “irretrievable.” My dear friend Michael Zalimeni is currently in the process of trying to help me find it, and should things change, I will blog it immediately.

For all of you done with finals: lucky ducks.

For all of you nearly done with finals: don’t replace your files!!!!

Love,

MM