When I was 15, I read "Animal Farm," took driver's ed, and began discovering music other than Top 40 and pop. That fall was long and chilly. It began getting into the mid-40s at night, and rose into the low 70s during the day. Sports, driver's ed, studying and other school-related things often kept me in my high school building until nearly 6:30 p.m. every day. Then I'd walk home. My home town ...