Thoughts on Green

I have been revisiting some of my notes from my time in Sarajevo and thought I would post that which I think stand the test of a bit of time. This posting reminds me of the differences in perception that you can have based on differences in previous experiences. Right this moment I am in the North Woods of Wisconsin in the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest and to me it is green green green. And yet some of the locals are talking about how the drought has changed the color of the season. It reminded me .....

Hi all, This has been a lovely weekend, warm and sunny and I got a chance to spend lots of time outside, doing my errands and just walking. When I tell anyone from Sarajevo that I live in Grbavice (grh bah veet sah) they say "oh how wonderful there is so much green space." And I have been thinking boy that is not my first impression...but after this weekend and all the walking my thoughts have changed...

Green Space of Grbavice

Green space that while green is also rich with colorful graffiti and just bad scribbling on walls

Green space that has playground equipment that is always in use and grounds that are spotted with long standing litter

Green space that has many brown spots and weedy patches though also green

Green space that has lots of dirty and pock marked concrete structures that children play tennis around or soccer over or just sit on to talk to each other

Green space that requires visitors to stand as many of the wooden seats of the benches are missing while the iron ends remain

Green space that is surrounded by burned out buildings that almost look like ancient cathedrals with empty arched windows and missing roofs and trees sprouting to the light

Green space, littered, graffiti-ed, and dis-repaired as it is, represents an unexplainable freedom just because children can be outside fearing only the routine playground hazards