Flowers for Sarajevo

Flowers for Sarajevo

Picture book
"He [a musician] sits and places his bow to the string.
The people who have gathered look on in silence. He plays the
most beautiful and heartbreaking music anyone could ever imagine. All
of us--Serb and Croat, Muslim and Christian--stand side by side,
listening to a language we all understand."
In 1992 twenty-two innocent people waiting to buy bread were
killed when a Sarajevo bakery was bombed. The next morning a cellist,
Vedron Smailovic, played a tune at the site of the tragedy. It was
the first of twenty-two days that he played that same tune--acting in
defiance and hope as well as eulogizing the victims.
John McCutcheon was inspired to write a song as a tribute to the
musician. He took a different angle to create this book. He wanted
to show the effect of the music on an ordinary hearer, a boy who must
go from being his father's helper at the family's flower market stall
to proprietor when his dad must go off to fight, in order to show that
each of us has an inner goodness and beauty, capable of fighting evil.
He achieves this goal magnificently. Read the book and see for
yourself.
On a personal note, yesterday at UMaine the counselling center/mind
spa crowd put on their annual carnival. As always it was a big hit
with students seeking stress relief. My favorite part was the therapy
dogs--so soft and fluffy and sweet natured. And the lemonade was just
the right balance of sweet and sour.
A friend who was at last week's cross stitch event where I taught has
finished her piece. It says Femme Ain't Frail. It looks lovely. I'm
glad she's enjoying one of my favorite hobbies.
A great big shout out goes out to the fine folks who work at
Counseling Center and Mind Spa and my new cross stitchers.
jules hathaway


Sent from my iPod