Pictures in my head - part 2

Driving through the countryside in Sweden
Through forest and farmland

Then...

Blocks of blue and white and gold and black and red overtake the green

Shopping centers.

Grocery stores.

Parking lots with rows of spaces... a few cars stand shiny, without rust... without dust.

Metal, plastic, colored glass, clear glass, cardboard, newspapers...

Recycling bins awaiting deposits from the conscientious residents of a conscientious country.

... bright squares standing in the sky.

Golden arches on a red sign promise drive-thru service of burgers and fries until 2am.

Now...

Bike lanes.

Bus stops.

Round-about.

Overpass.

Traffic light.

Houses tighten their ranks.

Lawns draw in close.

Flowers in pots.

Balconies.

Blocks of brick reach higher.

Town.

Stone buildings three hundred years old.

Sharp roof-lines.

Church steeples.

Bells ring at noon.

Parks.

Cobbled walks.

Tiny shops with gilded writing announce-

"REA" "SALE" in every window.

Town square.

Fountains with embarrassingly naked warriors riding horses and saving maidens (I'd never noticed them before, but my son did.)

Strawberries under shade tents in the square.

Flowers for sale in pots or cut for the vase. Flowers. Flowers.

Park benches. Low stone walls.

Blonds in short shorts.

Blonds in low jeans.

Black bangs.

Red curls.

Browns too.

Expensive shoes.

Designer sunglasses.

Suntans.

White teeth.

A shimmer of silver on the wrist. On the eyebrow, nose or ear.

A flower or butterfly or scrolled vine peeks from the shoulder strap or ankle.

Baby carriage.

A created sleeve of color on the bare arm of the father crossing the cobbles.

Skateboard.

Ear buds. IPhone.

Walker.

Silver curls and sturdy shoes.

Sandals with socks.

Wheelchair.

Bicycle.

Bus.

Home.

Rows of tastefully colorful townhouses.

People walk dogs... happy and healthy... on a leash...

Dark-eyed children with dark hair come to swing in the mostly empty playgrounds.

Flowers round the mailbox post.

Roses nodding red and pink.

Lace curtains.

Geraniums.

Välkommen hem.