As the low din of Harleys soothes the addled, paperwork infused, sitting-at-the-dining-room-table with cold coffee cup parents and caregivers of our nation's finest crop of kids yet, I have a chance to reflect upon this moment.
First, though, let me say the Harley thing .. is really neat. Driving amongst the masses on motorcycles though is a little like trying to dodge mating frogs in Springtime - they're vulnerable, they're on the road, and their minds are on Other Things. That said, it's interesting and I feel proud to be a Milwaukeean. We draw the people who are staring death in the face, and it feels tough. As I drive my minivan to buy unneccessary Spider Man items from the dollar spot, I'm allowed to pretend, for a minute, that I've thrown caution to the wind and am riding a Harley on some kind of odd virtual tour. I would have bought a Harley bandana if I thought for a second I could have parked and navigated the kids around without wishing I hadn't.
The logo for the Harley anniversary reminds me of the Jesus Christ Superstar album cover, though.Every time I see it I think we are having a massive tribute to the musical.
The last few days have been a flurry of activity, mostly in my head, but we've walked up and down Capitol and Oakland quite a bit so I thought, since we're NOT on a Harley (nice seque, hm?), let's take a virtual walk to a few random places in Shorewood - if you didn't make it to town this summer, here's what is happening as of August 28, 2008:
The post office - the single most difficult building to manage with a stroller - is exactly the same. OK, they have a ramp, thank goodness. Smell, signage, and broken copier. They are usually out of most current stamps, and have no automation for packages. They do have a stamp machine which is fun if you have small change to the tune of $5.40 or more and are at your wits' end with the kids.
The high school - big activity happening on the field - new astroturf is quite bright and shiny, though from the street it all still looks unfinished.
Coming up to the intersection - crazed looking crossing guard has a loose handle on the oddly ineffective walk signs and push buttons. Somehow manage to cross street intact and before light changes.
Further East on Capitol...to the bike store that is new - is happily changing its tune-up ability to be accessible to the average (i.e. not loaded) member of the community. They repaired the popped inner tube on our stroller wheel, parts and labor, $10. Can't complain - I didn't have to drive anywhere and they accommodated Henry's inquisitive ways in the shop as well. Talk to them about whether THEY think there should be a bike lane on Capitol. Very thoughtful replies, and I believe them. I hadn't thought about the access causing a narrowing of the sidewalks, but they're right to say this is a walking community, and this is the main thoroughfare, and is rather full already.
The new smoothie place...Smoothie Nation...I'm afraid to go in there. It's dark, spooky, and doesn't give me the impression anything is fresh or moderately priced. I never see kids in there, which makes me second that.
Crossing the street, there it is.
The City Market.
A heartless beacon of hope. It can be relaxing, which is why we all fall for it. Parts of the experience are nice. The staff could care less if you're there or not. You will be providing more for yourself than you do at home. Conversely, it is a breath of fresh air and a nice personal gift if it falls on that side of chance. For this one you need to weigh your options. If you are decked out in your summer's finest, having lost those 50 pounds, gotten ripped upper arms, and are having a good hair day, by all means, go! Gather up a few friends, get a sitter, and have a nice fancy salad and get a nice refreshing iced tea. Remember, that's a normal price for people having lunch at work, and if you're not working, well, that's ok. Pretend this is another city and this is your staycation. Your son's new teacher, your friend's mom and friend, and probably a tennis pro from a club you don't belong to will all be there supping on soup and half san.
For the rest of us, esp moms of little ones...bent in that stroller pose thinking it's going to be a brief respite from the whining and the stooping and the getting: Think Again. It's not a break - you might absorb some caffeine and briefly stare at a different paint color from your house (if you go to the bathroom, which you can't really, with the kids and all), but it is far from relaxing. It IS a place where the 5 year old can go potty by themselves. Mom takes kids there, kids go crazy, kids eat nothing but sweets, mom makes fifteen trips for napkins, forks, straw, another straw that "works" for son to blow paper off, butter, jelly, water, water with ice, water with no ice, water with a lemon, water without lemon..gulps own coffee, regrets paying for refills when she won't get any anyway,...and packs up stroller and has headache to go with the bill. You will end up wishing your stroller came with a shopvac attachment and an epi pen filled with narcotics.
Back to the housework, the sorting and finding of both gym shoes for the boy. Cheers to all as we celebrate the end of sleepy loungy kids and being able to get out of wearing normal clothes!
