I grew up in Alameda, CA, an island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Alameda is almost like the bar Cheers from the TV show, "a place where everybody knows your name." When I describe the place that I grew up in many ways it sounds like a very small town because I talk about running into people everywhere and meeting people who tell you they went to school with your parents.  With a population of 72,259 people it really is amazing that you can still have a feeling like that. Both of my parents grew up there and tell me stories of what it was like when they were growing up. They talk about what was different and what remains the same. My grandfather was a doctor in town and with a name like Cronenewett I continue to meet people who ask if I am related to him and tell me that he was their doctor. I grew up with my younger brother and went through the public schools in town with students of all different backgrounds. There were 27 languages spoken at my elementary school alone. It was a great place to grow up and I have nothing but fond memories looking back.