When We Were Ten ... Ten years old, Hanging out, Serious conversation With my best friend. "What do you want to be When you grow up?" "A hermit," I said. "A bum," she said. No hesitation. We were both totally sure. Forty years later ... I love living alone. A cave sounds nice, One with central heating And a comfy couch. I live in a basement. Very cosy ... It's rather cave-like, And I love it here. Rarely do I watch TV -- I live under a rock. "Do you like it? I made it myself!" Sharing space, I would come home And every damned day There was someone in my house. I like things quiet. I like being alone. There are lessons in solitude You can't learn any other way. When I was ten years old, I knew Beyond a shadow of a doubt I wanted to be a hermit. Every now and again I think of that old friend And I wonder Whatever happened to her. .......... These school pictures really are of my best friend and me when we were ten years old!