The youngest of five kids (three girls, two boys) I was born in the town of Worcester, MA and raised in the small town of Thompson, CT. With no stores, one flashing traffic light, one restaurant, a church and a town common it was quintessential New England small town living, but our town was blessed with several big families, and so it was rarely boring. Not to mention, being the youngest of five kids meant I was rarely without company (some might call it getting mercilessly picked on by my older siblings, but I called it love).