The Patient
The body was found early Monday morning. Susan, the janitor, had started her shift cleaning the...
March 2003
Mom is pregnant. She and Dad do not find out the gender. Dad wants a girl. Mom just wants a healthy baby. They put the nursery together. The walls and carpet are a sage green.
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October 2003
I am 4 months old. It’s my first Halloween. Mom and Dad dress me as peas in a pod. I am bright green. You could spot me from a mile away.
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December 2003
I am 6 months old. It’s my first Christmas. Mom dresses me in a clunky, green onesie with a matching hat. I look like an elf.
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June 2004
I am 1 year old. It’s my first birthday party. I am dressed in a light green polo shirt. Mom places me in my light green, checkered high chair. Dad puts an Elmo bib around me. It’s time for my smash cake.
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September 2005
I am 2 years old. Dad takes me to the pumpkin patch. I hate sitting in the big pumpkins but love playing with the little pumpkins. I am wearing a light green windbreaker jacket.
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December 2006
I am 3 years old. It’s my first year of school. We’re making paper Christmas ornaments. I choose green paper to make my ornament.
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February 2007
I am 3 years old. Pennsylvania is hit with a huge snowstorm. I take advantage of this by going out and building castles with my green bucket that I usually use in my sandbox.
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June 2007
I am 4 years old. I’m at SeaWorld with Mom and Dad. Before going to one of the shows, we stop by the gift shop. I pick out a Shamu toy and green rubber squishy puffer ball. I always loved how it smelled.
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November 2007
I am 4 years old. I don’t give Mom a hard time when she puts eye drops in my eyes, so she buys me a small, green Care Bear. I proudly bring it for show and tell.
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February 2008
I am 4 years old. I’m at Disney World with Mom and Dad. Dad and I go on the Dumbo ride. I pick the green Dumbo car. Later, we go on the teacup ride. I pick the teacup that was as close to green as possible.
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June 2008
I am 5 years old. I’m in New York for a family reunion. My cousins and I are competing in a potato sack race. I pick the green potato sack.
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September 2009
I am 6 years old. I’m asked, “Why do you like green so much?” I answer, “Because it’s the color of nature.”
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March 2010
I am 6 years old. Dad buys me Mario Kart for the Wii. I see the Mario characters for the first time. I choose to play as Yoshi because he’s a green dinosaur. Yoshi continues to be my go-to when playing Mario Kart in the future.
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July 2010
I am 7 years old. I’m in California with Mom’s side of the family. Amo Rafi is taking me and Armen mini golfing. I pick a green golf ball. Armen picks a blue one.
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October 2010
I am 7 years old. It’s almost Halloween. I find a green pumpkin bucket at Giant and beg Mom for it. I use it every year until it breaks.
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August 2011
I am 8 years old. Mokoor Claire and Armen are visiting us. Mom buys swimming masks and snorkels for Armen and I. Mine are green. His are blue.
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January 2012
I am 8 years old. I declare that St. Patrick’s Day is my favorite holiday because “it’s all green.”
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March 2013
I am 9 years old. It’s Easter Sunday. As per tradition, my family plays the egg crack game with the eggs that Grandma and I dyed a few days prior. I choose the green egg. I almost win.
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May 2013
I am 9 years old. In my fourth-grade class, we’re doing balloon car races. I pick a green balloon for my car. It wins nearly every time.
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July 2015
I am 12 years old. I decide I want to completely redo my room. I pick out bright, electric green paint to replace the lavender walls.
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June 2016
I am 13 years old. Dad wants me to carry some type of bag because I have nowhere to put my phone when I go out. I don’t want a purse or anything feminine looking. We compromise with a green crossbody bag. I bring it everywhere with me until it breaks.
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May 2017
I am 13 years old. My family is planning on moving in the summer. Mom is helping me pick out new furniture and linen for my room at the new house. I choose a lime green comforter with matching pillowcases.
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August 2017
I am 14 years old. My family and I just moved to our new house. Mom gives me paint color options for the walls in my room. I opt for a light sage green, almost the same color as my nursery.
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February 2020
I am 16 years old. Mom and I are shopping for prom dresses. Nothing catches my eye except for the dark green dress. We buy it. I never get to wear it.
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June 2021
I am 18 years old. I’m ordering a bucket hat off of Amazon for my new job as a camp counselor.
I spot a frog one. It comes in green. I buy it immediately. The green frog hat becomes my trademark at camp.
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July 2022
I am 19 years old. I’m getting a tattoo on my outer right ankle: the frog bucket hat that I wear at camp. I decided to get it colored a nice, spring green last minute. Every time I look at it, I think of my kids.
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December 2022
I am 19 years old. I ask for green crocs for Christmas. I haven’t worn crocs since I was 4.
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November 2023
I am 20 years old. I’m a junior in college. I order green Bluetooth headphones that match the green case on my laptop. I feel relaxed, refreshed, and safe with my favorite color.
