In a one story brick home in Milwaukee Wisconsin, I grew up the only child of the only Jewish, over-educated, east-coast native parents in the entire school district.

My predominantly Scandinavian and German neighbors kept to themselves and meticulously groomed their homes. Often playing alone in the yard or going on rides to nowhere with my mother, it never occurred to me to watch the television or even make a phone call. The only thing that got the neighbors together would be the sound of an approaching fire engine. People would suddenly appear with folding lawn chairs, lining up on the sid..