The following article was written by Manitowoc Public Library Programming Coordinator Tim Gadzinski.
Change. Such a simple six-letter word that carries so much weight.
Because change will happen, not to mention that it’s inevitable. Because nothing stays the same forever.
And, by and large, change is a good thing. It might not always feel that way in the moment, but change leads to discovery, which in turn leads to growth. Without growth there can only be stagnation and stagnation is never a good thing.
Change is also ubiquitous. Honestly, it’s hard to get through most days without change being a part of one’s life:
- If you need to break a $10 or $20, you’re going to need someone to make change
- It may not always be pleasant, but if you are now or have ever been a parent, changing a diaper or two has been a necessary part of the landscape
- If you get behind the wheel of your car, you’re going to have to change lanes at some point, which may be risky, especially if you’re driving in Boston
- Changing stations is always a necessity when you’re channel surfing, especially when a commercial comes on
- And it’s a pretty good day if you’re listening to random music and “Changes,” by Bowie comes on (so, look out, you rock and rollers!)
And these are just run-of-the-mill changes. A person’s life is filled with major changes. Speaking for myself:
- My life changed completely when I boarded a plane for the first time, seeing as my destination was Belgium and I was headed towards living abroad for a year as an exchange student
- One beautiful September morning in NYC, my perception of trusting a beautiful blue sky to mean that it was going to be a lovely day changed forever when a pair of passenger jets slammed into a couple of skyscrapers while I was at work a little bit uptown
- I decided that it was time to change the way I was living my life when I saw a beautiful woman who would never take me seriously (but, would eventually take the inexplicable risk of becoming my wife) if I continued to be the unruly goofball that I was at the time
So, the bottom line is that everyone has a story to tell that involves a significant change that’s happened in their lives. Because for better or worse, change happens.
With that in mind, Manitowoc Public Library and PetSkull Brewing would like to invite everyone to attend the 2026 return of “Tales from the Taproom!” No props, no notes. Just five minutes and a true, personal, favorite story. It’s your opportunity to step-up to the microphone at Manitowoc’s premiere True Story Zone!
The theme for this midwinter event at PetSkull Brewing Company, sponsored by Seehafer News, from 6-8 PM on Thursday, February 26, is, with a clear nod to David Bowie, “Ch-Ch-Changes!!!” Because we figured that it was a great idea to tell stories that focused on something that brought about a change in the direction someone’s life was heading.
Potential examples include:
- Changing your mind about someone, something, or yourself
- Your life circumstances changing
- A belief cracked, softened, or flipped entirely
- Life being nudged in a direction you didn’t expect
As this is an Adults-Only event, nothing is off limits—if you’re willing to tell it, it’s a story worth hearing. And one of the most amazing things about these storyslams is that they simultaneously reveal how much we have in common as they explore our individual diversity. It’s a pretty nifty trick.
You don’t have to come to “The Taproom” to tell a story—you can come to just listen, enjoy, and bask in the wonder of communal storytelling. However, should you want to step up to the mic to share a story that fits in with the evening’s theme, sign-up begins at 5:30 PM and we’ll fit in as many stories as possible during the allotted time of life pulling a switcheroo. Five minutes may seem like a lot of time, but it goes by quickly. And we’ll have a timekeeper to keep you on-track.
With any luck, your plans won’t change if I’ve piqued your interest about heading to PetSkull the evening of Thursday, September 26. We can’t wait to hear all about the changes life served up during the February installment of “Tales from the Taproom!”
