I was born in 1948 in what, in those very different days, was termed an upper middle class family, in Kankakee, Illinois. I came home from the hospital with the proverbial silver spoon at times literally in my mouth. I grew up on a stunningly beautiful four acre plot, in part heavily wooded, with a large two story house to explore. I was smart enough that I never had to work very hard in the lower grades of school, and as a result treated the subjects I later didn't care for with little respect (or diligence). It took a more...
