Brookfield Wannabe

Time for a philosophical blog. If someone could wave a magic wand over your head and make you 20 years old again, would you do it? Although not phrased in quite those same words, I heard this question posed to listeners during a morning radio show as I was driving through Brookfield on my way to a destination in Brookfield. (If you’re looking for any further link to Brookfield in this blog, sorry that’s it. I thought the radio discussion was thought provoking enough for a blog topic, so I figure close enough.)

Initially, I thought the answer to the question was a no-brainer, but when I asked my friends the question, and a few others of my own, their responses surprised me both in their eloquence and emphasis.

So, let me ask you the same things I asked them. Would you want to be 20 again? Would you do it if you could be 20 and possess all the life knowledge that you have now? Do you think men answer this question differently from women? (To do this hypothetical, you have to leave aside for the moment your choice in a significant other and any children you may have. Because even though we may think it occasionally, we don’t really want to trade in our partner or our children.) Email me your response. (See my blog “Reader Feedback” for info on how to contact me and how your email may be used.)

Before you answer, let me give you a little background about what was said on the radio show. The hosts of the show that day were two men and a woman. Although I don’t know their ages for sure, based on what I know and what they said, I’m going to guess that the woman is in her 40’s and that the two men are either in their mid to late 20’s or their 30’s. A woman caller who claimed to be 50 said she would not be 20 again for a million dollars. This answer prompted exclamations of disbelief from both male hosts, both of whom had no hesitation in responding that they would gladly be the “idiots” that they were at that age. The hosts then went on to discus being healthy versus looking younger, what I like to call the “Broccoli v. Botox” debate.

When it comes to aging, do people really dislike the number of years or is it really the “state of being” that comes with age (and I’m not necessarily talking about a physical state of being)? Do we really long to be young or do we really long for a time when responsibilities and concerns weighed less upon our minds? Maybe it’s more about choices. How many of us can truly say that we are happy with all the choices we have made? Would we jump at the chance to have a “do-over”?

I can honestly say that these questions ran through my mind while I was on vacation recently because there is nothing like being at Disney World with a young child to make you feel both young and old at the same time. The reality check of my age hit me as I was sitting on a cement sidewalk for 45 minutes, at Epcot, waiting for a fireworks/laser light show in 80 something degree heat, all for the sake of having a somewhat clear view of the show. Anyone out there who knows me knows that 1) I hate the heat; and 2) I hate the heat. But suffer it I did (not to mention the hard cement) because I was excited at the prospect of her seeing her first fireworks show, and as we waited, she bounced from my husband to me and back again, exclaiming over the ducks in the pond and the stars in the sky. Once the show started, however, she immediately covered her ears, cried that the “boom-boom” was too loud, wailed that she had something in her eye, and demanded to go back to the hotel.

At that moment, I knew what my answers would be.

But you’ll have to wait. My answer, my friends’ answers, and any readers’ answers will be posted on a future blog. Hope to hear from you.

From time to time, I see, read, or hear about things that I think are interesting but maybe not particularly “blogworthy.” So, I’ve decided to institute a feature called “Have you heard…?” that will just be a quick list of these items. (Note: None of the organizations featured have reimbursed me in any way for their mention in my blog.)

STORE MAKEOVER

I was shopping at the Furniture Clearance Center (FCC) at the Brookfield Towne Centre recently. The store was having a sale in order to clear out its inventory because the store will be turning into Porters of Brookfield. This is great news for furniture aficionados who are familiar with the long-established and well known Porters of Racine, retailers of high-end furniture. I have always been a big fan of both Porters and the FCC. The quality of the furniture is excellent, and customer service is first-rate. Since price points tend to be a bit high at Porters, I would shop here for the quality pieces you intend to keep for a long time. It’s worth the investment.

NEW RESTAURANTS

I heard that the new Monsoon Wok and Lounge on Bluemound Road is finally open. I’ve heard great things about Mo’s and Moceans in Milwaukee, although I haven’t tried them yet. So, I’m looking forward to eating at the Brookfield addition to the “Mo” family.

En route to Sendiks, I noticed a new sign that said the restaurant North Star Bistro was coming soon. I haven’t heard yet what type of food will be offered here.

CHURCH FESTIVAL

St. Dominic’s is having its annual church festival this weekend, July 14-16. The church grounds are located off Capitol Drive, between Calhoun and Brookfield Road. I’ve found this to be a good family event. It offers your typical festival food (love that roast corn), and the range of games is good for kids, even little ones. The festival is not so big that crowds or parking are a problem.

WALKING CARTOONS

This may be old news to some, but I just heard about it. A theater production of the old ABC network cartoons “Schoolhouse Rock” is currently being staged at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center. How many of us can only say the Preamble to the Constitution if we sing it? And how many of us, when we hear the word “conjunction,” start hearing that song “Conjunction junction, what’s your function?” I hope there are tickets still left.

GOT BOOKS?

Books, CDs, Books on Tape, and DVDs are wanted for the August Book Sale for the Friends of the Brookfield Library. Call for pick-up (262) 786-6655.

DOUSMAN DAYS

I saw a flyer for an event at the historic Dousman Stagecoach Inn. “Days Gone By” will be held on the grounds on September 17, 2006, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mentioned in the flyer: Antique Farm Tractors, Laura Ingalls Wilder and her stories, and period games, crafts, and displays.

I took a little break for the Fourth of July (and then some). Hope you were able to do the same. When I fired up the old computer again, ready to delete the spam build-up, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had received reader email. I use the word “surprised” because my husband almost had me convinced that the only people reading my blog were my friends and family members. (So, HAH!) Thank you to all the readers who wrote in. I appreciate your comments.

Because I received reader email and because I’m still gearing up for the next blog, I thought this would be a good time to let you know how I might use or reprint your comments. Because I’m only telling you this now, I’m not going to reprint any of the emails that I have already received, but I would like to address a few items from my reader feedback.

A few of you have asked why there is no way to comment directly on the blog. The people in charge of the BrookfieldNow website are working on this, but as of yet, there is no word on when that feature will be available. For now, readers are able to email their comments to me through the blog. Simply click on my name, and you should be able to contact me using my Brookfield Wannabe email address. If for some reason that doesn’t work, send your email to brookfieldwannabe@yahoo.com.

Another email comment made me wonder what readers’ expectations are regarding the content of my blog. As you may have noticed from reading the Brookfield blogs, content will vary depending on the particular blogger, and we are not limited to writing in a specific genre. Although my recent blogs have been somewhat editorial in nature, I do intend to mix it up a bit, and I’m always looking for new material. The only real requirement is that the content of the blog must relate to Brookfield in some manner.

USE OF READER FEEDBACK: (If this sounds a little “legal,” you can blame the attorney that is still living in me somewhere.)

If you send me an email, I will assume that I have your permission to reprint, use, or otherwise disclose all or any portion of your comments in association with the writing or publication of my blog. Your email address, your full name, and any other identification information that fully identifies you (e.g. your full address) will NOT be disclosed on the blog.

If you do not wish to have your email reprinted in any manner, please specifically state so in your message.

If your email is reprinted in full or in part in the blog, your first name or initials (and your city if applicable) may be disclosed as a way of “identifying/acknowledging” your comments.

Both positive and critical feedback email will be considered for reprint.

“Inappropriate” email will be handled as circumstances warrant. Inappropriate mail includes but is not limited to any email that is deemed vulgar, obscene, threatening, or harassing. If the circumstances require it, these types of email will be forwarded in full, including any information identifying the sender, to the proper authorities.

NEXT BLOG: BROCCOLI, BOTOX, AND DISNEYWORLD

--Stay tuned!