1987

By the time you get this, more than half of the class will have turned 40. Did you have a party? Did you think about your life in retrospect? Did you hurt yourself getting out of bed? I'm not really sure where I am going with this-for me turning 40 was seemingly anticlimactic; I had been thinking about myself as 40 for about six months, and the day changing did not do much for that.

The strange thing about me turning 40 is that my career has just begun—I'm not even tenured yet. Some of you are in leadership positions; some of you have already retired. I feel young because in terms of my career lam young. How is it for the rest of you?

The one thing I do notice is that all the ballplayers in the news, save for one or two, are considerably younger than us and are ready to retire. And that it's a big deal that Demi Moore is over 40 and is getting modeling contracts. Just for the record, I've already retired and I have no modeling contracts.

Recent classmate sightings—Michael Tanner in San Francisco in February, when I was chaperoning a school trip. A few weeks ago I attended a birthday party for Tom Kannam and Heather McCuthen's 1-year-old baby Tom. Mark Chavey was there with his wife, Torey.

Just for the record, Mark will have turned 40 by the time you read this. Michael will have turned 40 by the time you get this. I'm already 40. Heather has already turned 40. Tom will be turning right around the time this comes out.

Warning: I'll be in touch with more people this year. I have to do more reporting. This talking about myself is getting old.

296 Union St., Brooklyn, NY11231; jtstex@gmail.com