Wilmette resident and substitute librarian Bronwyn Parhad was keeping cool at the Wilmette Public Library’s youth services desk on a recent warm Wednesday, but she shared a warm smile and the answers to some hot-weather questions for Pioneer Press.
Are you a winter person or a summer person?
I’m a fall and spring person, but winter’s OK, too. I became a snowbird for the first time this year – my husband and I have a home in Las Vegas, and it felt good not to have all the Chicago snow and all the shoveling that goes with it for a change.
What do you do to keep cool on broiling days?
Well, I always have my water bottle with me, and I keep a mix of water and Gatorade in it.
Other than water and Gatorade, what’s your idea of the perfect summer drink?
I don’t do alcohol, but lemonade is wonderful on hot days.
How about a great hot-weather dish to go with the drink?
A great big bowl of chopped fruit, with lots of melon and grapes. That would be a nice, cool dish.
Do you have a cause or a charity you’d like people to be aware of?
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People are probably already aware of it, but breast cancer awareness is important to me. I’m coming up on 15 years as a survivor, I’ve done the two-day walk and other events, so that’s very close to my heart, and October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Can you recommend a good hot-weather book?
I don’t know if it’s a hot weather book, but I just finished “Brush Back” by Sara Paretsky. It’s one of her V.I. Warshawski novels. I’ve read every one in the series, they’re all great, and this one has everything. It has Wrigley Field, it has a lot of other places all around Chicago, it has V.I. Warshawski – it’s awesome, and she’s wonderful!
What’s your idea of the perfect vacation?
Maybe it would be to go back to Paris. My husband and I spent time in Paris several years ago. We stayed on the Left Bank. It was quite some time ago – B.C., or “before children” – and I think it would be nice to go back.
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