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Dr. Balis:
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Hello, Anna.
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Ms. Green:
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So we're officially a couple...or a threesome...or whatever. You know what I mean.
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Dr. Balis:
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Congratulations, right?
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Ms. Green:
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Yes. I think it's the right thing.
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Dr. Balis:
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The right thing in general? The right thing for Kathy? For Martin? For you?
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Ms. Green:
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I think all of those.
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Dr. Balis:
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Good. Would you like to talk about it?
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Ms. Green:
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Of course. I don't think I could talk about anything else, Doctor. It's like we're in our honeymoon stage right now, you know?
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Green:
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In fact we even went on a honeymoon trip, sort of.
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Dr. Balis:
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Really?
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Ms. Green:
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It was Kathy's idea, and I thought it was terrific--what a great way to start off a relationship. We even agreed to hold off consummating our relationship until we were on our honeymoon. Romantic, isn't it?
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Dr. Balis:
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Very.
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Ms. Green:
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We took last Friday off from work and went away for three whole days together. There's a little very romantic place up the coast on Route 1 just south of Fort Bragg. It's a small hotel right on the cliff overlooking the ocean. They told us a movie had been made there, "Same Time Next Year?" But I hadn't seen it. In any case, it's a very nice place and...we asked for the honeymoon suite, you know? But guess what?
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Dr. Balis:
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What?
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Ms. Green:
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It was taken by none other than Lloyd Major. You know, our CEO?
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Dr. Balis:
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I know.
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Ms. Green:
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It was cool that we were staying in the same hotel as Mr. Major. It's not like he recognized us or anything, but it was cool.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Green:
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We still got a great room. We asked for one with a giant bed--king size. And we wanted a hot tub in our room--we didn't want to leave the room for the whole three days. We were getting room-service and we'd only leave to take midnight walks along the coast. But mostly we wanted to just love each other and stare out into the ocean drinking nice cocktails.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Green:
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And the people in the hotel were as nice as could be. You'd think that a party like ours arrived there every day--they really treated us like the three of us just got married. But it's close to San Francisco, so who knows?
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm glad they were nice to you.
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Ms. Green:
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Are you angry with me?
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Dr. Balis:
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No, of course not. Why do you ask?
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Ms. Green:
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You look so glum.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm sorry. I'm just still waiting to hear that you've thought long and hard about this and...
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Ms. Green:
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Oh, Doctor, of course I had. I told you I've been thinking about it almost non-stop. I think this is the right thing.
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Dr. Balis:
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You've said that.
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Ms. Green:
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So I have.
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Dr. Balis:
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What about the reservations that you had? Is this a viable long-term relationship or just a short-term fun thing?
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Ms. Green:
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I don't do short-term fun things, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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So you expect this to last.
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Ms. Green:
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I do. We are good together--better than in any other combination. Martin and I, Kathy and Martin, Kathy and I--it works best when it's the three of us together.
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Dr. Balis:
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Did you have a wedding?
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Ms. Green:
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No, we're keeping this a secret.
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Dr. Balis:
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What? Why?
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Ms. Green:
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Too many people just wouldn't understand.
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Dr. Balis:
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Like your parents?
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Ms. Green:
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Oh, before I agreed to any of this, I made them promise that under no circumstances were my parents ever to know that we are anything more than just roommates.
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Dr. Balis:
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Roommates?
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Ms. Green:
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Yeah. I gave up my apartment as of October first. And Kathy told her landlady that she won't be coming back--that was very ugly, she's just so dependent on Kathy...
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Dr. Balis:
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I see.
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Ms. Green:
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We were practically living together anyway.
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Dr. Balis:
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I thought you liked having your own space and being able to get away.
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Ms. Green:
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Well, a real relationship is not about getting away. It's about finding ways to stay together and live with each other despite the small differences and annoyances that arise from time to time.
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Dr. Balis:
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I see.
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Ms. Green:
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I've committed to this relationship. I think it's a mature thing to do.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Green:
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So I'm packing all my stuff, and we are moving it during the evenings into Martin's apartment...well, I guess it's our apartment now. Hmm?
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Dr. Balis:
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I guess.
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Ms. Green:
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And it's really practical this way, too. We'll split the rent and all the utilities three ways. And we all contribute money to the general housekeeping fund and to food. And it's nice to split the chores, too. It's a good thing all around.
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm.
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Ms. Green:
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The only thing that was sort of a damper on our celebrations was Martin's tongue.
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Dr. Balis:
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What?
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Ms. Green:
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I knew you'd be interested. Martin is a smart man, but he still can't use a microwave for the life of him. He was heating up some leftover Chinese food. He kept touching it and touching it, and it was still cold. Finally, he just didn't want to wait anymore and stuffed a huge glob of it into his mouth. And you know how microwaves are? Some parts are left ice cold, while others are boiling hot. Martin's tongue was completely out of commission for our entire honeymoon!
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Dr. Balis:
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What a shame.
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Ms. Green:
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Kathy and I had to punish him for that of course.
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Dr. Balis:
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Of course.
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Ms. Green:
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We tied him to the bed, and the two of us...oh, never mind.
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Dr. Balis:
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So are you sure that this is what you want, Anna? Are you sure that this was completely your decision--you weren't pushed into this...
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Ms. Green:
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I think I'm sure. I'm very happy right now, Doctor Balis. Very. After I decided to say yes, it was like a giant load fell of my shoulders and I felt liberated and happy and free. I haven't felt that way for a long time. I love my family--Martin and Kathy. And it's a good feeling, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Then I'm very happy for you.
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Ms. Green:
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No, you're not. But I will make you believe that this is one of the best things that ever happened to me. And you know, Doctor?
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Dr. Balis:
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Hmm?
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Ms. Green:
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It's all because of you.
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Dr. Balis:
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Oh?
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Ms. Green:
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I have you to thank for my happiness. You really got me through some very rough times in my life, and I'm very grateful. Now that I'm happy, I can look back on my life and see how much confusion and misery there was there--one bad relationship after another. But no more. I'm happy now. And you are responsible.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'm not sure I'm willing to take all that responsibility. But it's getting late, Anna, and I'm very tired. Do you mind if we end a bit early today?
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Ms. Green:
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Sure, go get some rest, Doctor Balis. And thank you for everything.
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Dr. Balis:
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I'll see you next week?
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Ms. Green:
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Absolutely. Good night, Doctor.
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Dr. Balis:
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Good night, Anna.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Session
Transcripts of Anna Green's Communications
