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How Does a Conventional Life Differ from an Unconventional One?
The answer depends on who you are and how you desire to experience life.
I have never lived a conventional life.
In fact, truth be told, I’m not entirely sure what such would look like.
When I was a small child in the 1970s, we lived in Minnesota. A small, Jewish family. When I was 5 years old my parents divorced.
During this time in history — that was rare. Particularly in the Jewish community. My dad moved halfway across the country while mom worked and raised my sister and me. I became a latch-key kid — since from like second grade onwards I went home from school and took care of myself.
Nowadays, that largely wouldn’t fly. But this was the early 1980s, and the world wasn’t so well connected then.
Over the years, growing up Jewish in a predominantly Lutheran community, I was witness to the “normal” things. While we celebrated Hanukkah, they celebrated Christmas. We had to fight most years to make sure teachers didn’t give us tests or quizzes during the High Holidays when we were out of school at the synagogue.
I became familiar with New York City at age 10 or so since my dad lived in Manhattan. Navigating midtown alone was something I…
