Paul was raised in Westwood, Massachusettes. The vignettes Elizabeth remembers most vividly include...

* His mother sending him out to buy bananas from the local market. He recalled that task as an early lesson in the importance of fluency with math facts (he was worried about having enough money to buy the right number of bananas but also knew he'd get in trouble if he didn't bring back the right change)

* His faithful dog waiting for him under the tree by his elementary school

* Walking through the snow uphill and backwards.....and such!

* The early morning paper route

* Sneaking out of the house around the age of 10 or 11 with a friend and riding horses in the middle of the night - Paul was clotheslined on the return to paddock and dislocated his shoulder. He crept back into the house and into his bed where he suffered a very painful night: in tremendous discomfort but unwilling to risk seeking help because it would mean his escapade would be found out!

* Being forced to take dance lessons, but reflecting that it was a 'life-long skill' that proved quite useful and brought him a lot of joy

* The profound treat of going out to lunch with a friend and his mother who were more well-to-do than Paul's family. After he and his friend both devoured their hamburgers the mother asked the boys if they would like another burger.
Afraid of appearing greedy or ungrateful, he just shrugged and said he didn't care, despite desperately wanting another. His friend spoke up and received another helping. Watching the other boy eat the hamburger he wanted stuck with him. He told that story as a cautionary tale of the damages wrought by ambivilance.

* Being so impressed with the physical strength of his brother David when David worked at a factory that made cinder blocks. Paul would describe David lifting them and loading them into a delivery truck.

* Hitchhiking to and from Boston College High School every day

* Working as a grave digger -- all done by hand!

* Summer trips to Whitefield and Ashland to visit cousins