A Diary of Life   11/14/71 Dear Diary, I saw the most beautiful Barbie doll in the whole world today… maybe if I clean my room, Mommy will get it for me.   09/16/76 Dear Diary, My class is putting on the play, “Alice in Wonderland.” I want to play Alice more than anything else in the world!   03/22/81 Dear Diary, I have a chemistry test tomorrow.  I’m not even sure what it is on, but if I pass, I promise to never procrastinate again. I’ll be the ideal student from now on…If I just pass that test tomorrow.   01/27/90 Dear  Diary, Waiting to hear from medical schools is torture. Getting in will be a dream come true.  It’s all I want.   05/29/92 Dear Diary, The National Boards are just around the corner. If I could just do really well, I’d never wish for anything else again.   02/01/94 Dear Diary, My family and I wait the match results. They’re so proud…only for them do I hope that I match.   10/17/96 Dear Diary, I lost my first patient today.  Not understanding what was happening to her, the last thing she asked for was a Barbie doll.   by Una Shah, MSII