I was born in a 'burb of Boston in 1948. I awoke around '53 or 4.
I ran away when I was somewhere in the 8 or 9 age area and I remember my older brother ( 14? 15? )had a cop stop the Mueen Mary I was on because he suspected I had taken a joy ride to Dedham, but had to turn around and come back to where I started (It's complicated unless you understand 1960's Boston area public transportation)
(A queen Mary is the yellow/orange trolley of the time)
Anyway .. I love Rockwell's art and his ability to capture about 95% of my childhood.
I too loved, Rockwell and the idealistic America he depicted.
The New England we grew up in was of stay-at-home moms, sandlot baseball, and neighbors who knew you and homemade apple pie.
The cop depicted [RIP] probably knew you *and* your parents.
The America we have evolved into, is one that has cops padding their retirement, children being snatched from their homes and families desperate to cling to the *American Dream*, that is broken at every turn.
Yes, I'm angry, skeptical, jaded and disappointed. "I painted the way I would like life to be." ~N. Rockwell.
I can hope and dream. I miss Rockwell's America.