"When we met many, many years ago, we were both so young. We were both so innocent. And we were both…

"When we met many, many years ago, we were both so young. We were both so innocent. And we were both so ignorant: ignorant to the "truth”; of all the trials and tribulations life would bring; to the difficulties our lives would bring.

But what can I say? We were 12 and inexperienced. We were naive and unlearned.

But that soon changed. We changed. And thanks to circumstances beyond our control — things like death and divorce, moves and job losses — our eyes were opened. We were tougher. We had hardened, and neither innocence nor ignorance could save us....