At first, I thought it was just a random choice—maybe he liked the color, or maybe it was on sale. But when I finally asked him why he did it, he said, “Because of my dad.”
He got quiet for a moment and explained that his father, a veteran, used to keep a green light on his porch as a symbol of appreciation and support for fellow service members. After his dad passed away, it became his small way of honoring him.
I stood there, holding all my frustration about boundaries and shared space… and suddenly felt it melt a little. I still don’t love that he did it without asking, but knowing the reason made it feel less like an annoyance—and more like a tribute I hadn’t expected to be part of.
