1989

As the clock ticked down toward 2008, most of us completed the jump into the next decade of our lives. I chose to celebrate 40 with a mix of nostalgia and snow— a trip though Hanover ending in the Green Mountains of Vermont for some cross-country skiing fun. During the winter after graduation I skied with Jamie Heller at a lovely spot where I vowed to return someday for a longer stay. It took 18 years but I finally made it back, this time with my '89 spouse and two daughters in tow. Sledding with your kids is definitely one way to make you feel young again.

Tom Avril was treated to a surprise 40th birthday party by his wife at their Philadelphia home last May. Guests included Derek Kamper, visiting from Chicago along with his wife, Laurie, and daughter Izzie. Kurt Moser and Linda Kelly made the trip from Washington with their kids Peter and Caroline. Derek Hansel, who lives near Tom, rounded out the group for the minireunion.

Matt Garber was also feted at a surprise party last winter for his 40th. Other' 89s in attendance included Eric Berlin and Laura Hartwell Berlin, Chris Herron, Dave Kully and Ware Adams. Matt has a new job to go along with his new age: director of pediatric hospitalists at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Rebecca Reese, Sandy Brown and Kim Tyner were planning a girls-only belated birthday trip to Florida. I'm sure the break from spouses and kids was lots of fun.

In the stork department, Tom Palmer and wife welcomed son Alex in August, joining older brother Davis. And our Bethesda, Maryland, neighbor Jeremy Rider and his wife, Jill, had their third child in December, a little girl named Sayde Jane. She joins big brothers Jesse and 80, who happens to be a first-grade classmate of our daughter Julia. Nancy Bernard Felix reported that Marnie Curry had her second sonSamuel Vose Smith—over the summer.

Nicole Conte attended the 35 Years of Women at Dartmouth Celebration weekend in Hanover last November. She says it was great to connect with Colette Ellis and Allison MoirSmith at the authors, products and services gallery, which Nicole organized for the event. Colette was sharing her executive coaching and consulting business, based in New York City, and Allison was selling and signing her book for brides, described here in a previous column (www.emotionallyengaged.com). Nicole urges us to check out the recorded seminars and lectures from the weekend, available through the alumni Web site. Nicole is happy to be living in the Upper Valley in Vermont with her husband, Matt, and their 4-year-old daughter. Matt is home after serving in Ramadi, Iraq, with the Vermont National Guard as a physician assistant and captain. Nicole says her heart goes out to anyone who has a loved one in a war zone.

5912 Aberdeen Road, Bethesda, MD 20817;javellino@mac.com