The five questions meme

My friend Jess posted this meme on her LiveJournal, and since I was feeling brave, I went for it. It's an audience participation meme, so if you feel inclined to participate, please do so. If no one participates, it will be no skin off my nose, but it could be fun. I had fun answering the questions, and to her credit, Jess came up with a good mix of serious and not so serious.
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The rules:

1. Leave me a casual comment of no particular significance, like a lyric to your current favorite song, your favorite jelly bean flavor, or maybe your favorite game. Any remark, meaningless or not. (for example: my comment on Jess' entry was "My sugar is raw.")

2. I will respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better. I will try not to make them too nosy or snarky. (This should, but will probably not happen as soon as you reply. Give me time folks!)

3. Update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. Include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in your own post.

5. When others respond with a desultory comment, you will ask them five questions.
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1. When did you decide you wanted to be a pharmacist, and why? Has the reason changed as time has gone by?

I decided to become a pharmacist during my senior year of high school. For years, I had thought that I wanted to be a doctor. But then I got a job at a local clinic pharmacy in the fall of 1989 as a delivery boy/stock boy/jack-of-all-trades and really liked it. I liked what the pharmacists did, the kinds of things the did, and the specialized knowledge that went along with it. I also liked chemistry quite a bit and that seemed like a good application of that interest.

But the real turning point for me was when I was at the clinic Christmas party and one of the doctors talked about being on call all day Thanksgiving and Christmas. That didn't seem how I wanted to live my life, and it was at that point that I very clearly recall thinking, "I don't want to be a doctor."

I do enjoy what I do, even if it is, at times, very frustrating. The profession has undergone a lot of changes in the 13 years that I've been licensed, some good, some bad. We're a lot more directly involved in patient care and are taking responsibility for outcomes. This is a good thing. Conversely, the state of retail pharmacy is a disgrace in my opinion, with emphasis on volume and the almighty dollar which has done nothing but cheapen the profession and burn out those brave souls that dare work it.

2. What's your all-time favorite Madonna song?

There are so many to choose from and she's had so many memorable hits and album tracks, but I think that if a gun were held to my head, I would spit out one of the earliest hits - "Borderline." She has surely made more complex and personal songs, but this song hinted at the greatness to come. If there is any one song I want to hear on the Sticky & Sweet Tour (which I keep on wanting to call the Skinny & Sweet Tour), it's this one.

3. Why is it so difficult for men to have emotionally close friendships with other men? Or do you even feel that way?

I really do agree with this statement. I've explored this a few times on my blog, but usually dance around the topic. I think there are many reasons that men have such a hard time forming emotionally close friendships with other men, but probably the biggest is fear. Fear of exposure, fear of vulnerability and fear of the unknown. We are not socialized that way. We're brought up to show nothing and express no emotion. So letting other guys see that emotion is especially taboo.

I, however, consider that to be the biggest load of crap that has ever been put over on us. I truly hope that starting with the men of my generation, we can start turning that on its ear and learn to connect with each other. I know from personal experience that it can and does happen, but you can't force it.

4. What is your greatest wish for your daughter?

My greatest wish for her is that she go into her life unafraid to take chances and have adventures. I hope that I can instill in her the confidence needed for this, along with just the right dose of cautiousness so not to go spinning madly out of control.

5. If you could choose any other generation to be a part of, which one would you choose, and why?

I have always wished that I could have been a young adult or thirtysomething during the Watergate era, so late 60s/early 70s. I don't know why this is, but I am fascinated by that period of history. It's too close to us to really be taught in schools, but we have so much to learn from it. There are days that I feel like we are reliving it (those who refuse to learn from the past are condemned to repeat it?) but I still wish I could experience it. Of course, if I were to do that, I would have to figure out some way to avoid being immediately drafted into Vietnam. So I guess it's not so much wishing I were part of a different generation, but rather experiencing a time period that I was just barely conscious for more fully and completely.
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OK, folks, it's your turn.