When I Was Younger, I

And What Made These Heart-to-hearts Possible--you Might Even Say What Made The Whole Friendship Possible During That Time--was This Understanding We Had That Anything We Told Each Other During These Moments Would Be Treated With Careful Respect: That We'd Honor Confidences, And That No Matter How Much We Rowed, We Wouldn't Use Against Each Other Anything We'd Talked About During Those Sessions.

I Work Very Regular Hours, Roughly 9 To 5:30. I Think I Have It Much Easier Than A Lot Of Parents. I Just Sit At Home, I Have A Very Flexible Timetable, And I'm Very Fortunate In That I Don't Have Money Problems. I Have Lunch With My Wife At Home. I Don't Have To Commute, So I Have Much More Time With My Family.

I Have The Feeling Of This Completely Alternative Person I Should Have Become. There Was Another Life That I Might Have Had, But I’m Having This One.

If I'm Alone At Home, I Get Increasingly Restless, Bothered By The Idea That I'm Missing Some Crucial Encounter Out There Somewhere. But If I'm Left By Myself In Someone Else's Place, I Often Find Myself A Nice Sense Of Peace Engulfing Me. I Love Sinking Into An Unfamiliar Sofa With Whatever Book Happens To Be Lying Nearby.

To See The Best Before I Have Properly Begun Would Be Somewhat Premature.