The Grass is Always Greener

The grass is always greener.   This is an interesting phrase.  Through the course of my life, honestly, I may have heard this statement hundreds if not thousands of times.  It’s engrained to the point of almost ‘call and response’. 

We all know the answer, right?  “It’s on the other side”, of course!  Erma Bombeck added her take on the sentiment by adding, “over the septic tank”.  Along those lines, I’ve heard it offered that “the grass is also greener – where it’s fertilized”.   Yikes, it certainly may be greener, but it might not smell very pleasant. 

            I’ve often thought about what in the human condition so compels us to desire ‘the other side’.  I mean, that’s a whole lot of blind faith.  Think about it.  We don’t know exactly what’s on this mystical ‘other side’, or even further, if there is an ‘other’ side.  Yet we lament for it.  Many of us won’t gamble because of the uncertainty, but we long for ‘the other side’. 

Some don’t fly on jet airliners because they are not in control, but they will stare out their window and map out a plan to get ‘to the other side’.  Now, don’t get me wrong, our sense for discovery has certainly given the human race momentous achievements.  The Earth is indeed round after all.  Is it possible, that as one quests for the great unknown they have neglected the present obvious benefits of ‘this side’?

            What if I told you on ‘this side’ of the Greater Prince William County region, the City of Manassas Park, right outside your back door … just down the street from your house ...is home to a magnificent community center? Could it be news to you that on ‘this side’ of Northern Virginia, a full service municipality operates an award-winning and regionally recognized Office for Teens that provides programs to our teens that are ‘at-risk‘ through the oversight of compassionate mentors?

  Would you be at all surprised to learn that on ‘this side‘ of the Washington D.C. metropolitan area exists a place where thousands of children engage in play and actively participate in championship caliber youth leagues for coaches and instructors that believe healthy choices and active lifestyles is the only true way to combat childhood obesity? 

How about this, could you believe it if I told you that on ‘this side‘ of the State of Virginia lies  a Miracle Field provided especially for, but not exclusive to, our citizens that are physically disabled or intellectually challenged – a tremendous barrier free facility that reminds us all that joy is contagious, most certainly when baseball is involved!  This field, by the way, is one of three in the Commonwealth. 

Did you know that on ‘this side’ of the East Coast lies Signal Hill Park, home to the 2011 USA RUGBY Eastern Division Senior Club National Championships in preparation for the 2012 Olympic games, when Rugby will be introduced as an event?  More over, how would you feel if I told you that on ‘this side’ of the country (yes, that would be the whole country) lies a piece of land that is noted, historically and commonly known a Signal Hill, to be the very location where the first use of flags in warfare as a method of communication was introduced.  Could you believe all this?  You should because all of ‘this’ happened here, in Manassas Park, on this side of the proverbial fence.

            For many years, I’ve have extolled upon those who would give me a second to bend their ear that the Department of Parks and Recreation might very well be the best kept secret on ‘this side of the world’.  Small, but strong, the department has continued to remain committed to ‘our side’. 

Touching the lives of thousands of citizens, assisting our human service providers in prevention based programs, providing safe, clean and green parks and athletic fields is not our job…it’s our privilege.  While it is inevitable to want to see just what is exactly on the other side, let’s not forget about ‘this side’ and all the amazing achievements and opportunities the City of Manassas Park delivers.

            So, is the grass greener on the other side?  Perhaps.  My take on it is pretty simple…I agree the grass could be greener on the other side, and it’s all a bit uncertain isn’t it?  What I can say with certainty is this; the grass is always greener….where it is watered.  It’s true, I may not know what is on the other side, but from where I stand (or sit behind my desk in Manassas Park), it’s pretty amazing.  Please excuse me…while I go turn on the sprinkler.

 Catherine Morretta is the Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. She can be reached at 703.335.8871 or via email at c.morretta@manassasparkva.gov.

To view more blogs by our department, visit our blog page http://manassasparkcommunitycenter.wordpress.com/