Finding the Perfect Toothbrush Holder

If you caught my column last week, you know I was pondering a few things. Well, a week later, I’m still pondering….

This time one of the things making me wonder is why a person can’t find a toothbrush holder made for more than four toothbrushes? I realize the average U.S. family has four people, but that doesn’t mean all of us are average.

I grew up in a family of six and I know for a fact we had a toothbrush holder mounted to the wall in our bathroom with a slot for each. Now that I have a family of my own, also numbering six, I have searched high and low for the better part of a year (having grown tired of using a plain old cup) to no avail. Big box stores, department stores, even the local bath specialty stores - no luck!

Don’t the toothbrush holder manufacturers care about those of us who don’t fit the norm? Of course considering the age of a lot of the houses in our community, you would think they might already have such a thing installed? Anyway, I’ve decided my next stop is the Internet - after all you should be able to find just about anything on the web, right?

Perhaps you had a chance this week to attend the Greendale All-District String Festival? I did and must say I was quite impressed. There’s a strong emphasis on the arts here in the district, which was clearly demonstrated by the orchestra students in the fourth through twelfth grades. The finale was superb… all the students performed a stirring rendition of “Smoke on the Water“ together. While I really enjoyed the concert, what I didn’t enjoy was the young woman a row or two behind me who felt the need to continually yell out the names of people she knew who were on stage. She wasn’t the only one, though. As the concert progressed, I began to wonder if I was really in the high school auditorium listening to musicians or at Gavinski Stadium for a panther football game? Seriously people! There’s nothing wrong with showing enthusiasm for a performance, but proper concert etiquette calls for vigorous clapping, not cheering loudly and hollering your kid’s or best friend’s name.

One of the exciting things happening in Greendale these days is the upcoming Ava Walk - Advocating Vehicle Awareness on Sunday, April 17 at 2 p.m. As I mentioned in a previous column, the walk is to commemorate five-year old Ava Marie Zimmerman who died in a vehicle-pedestrian incident a year ago on Broad Street in the village. Her family hopes to get more drivers to watch for pedestrians in order to prevent similar tragedies for other families. The really exciting part about the event is how the community has rallied around the cause. Ava’s aunt, Christy Cool, tells me they are expecting over 1,000 walkers to participate. Not bad for the first time, huh? I hear we can also expect a flash mob dance performance during the event, which was choreographed by my daughters’ own dance teacher, Sandy Young, of Young Dance Academy in Oak Creek. If you feel like putting on your dancing shoes and learning the routine, here’s a link to a video showing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiQ7eYLdIi4&feature=share.  Everyone is welcome to join in!

Finally, I’d like to welcome to Greendale Patch fellow columnist Mike ‘Dusty’ Vickery. If you ever read his columns in the old Village Life, you know we’re in for a treat. I know for one that they always made me chuckle. Makes me wonder, where have you been, Mike?

Well, that’s enough pondering for now…. Until next week then!