Here’s something you may not know: There is nothing in the rules that says that either co-secretary Juliet Aires Giglio or I have to mention any of you in our column. We could write this entire column about ourselves every month and there is absolutely nothing anyone can do to stop us. The only thing that stops us is the word limit of the column. Five hundred words can’t possibly tell you enough about either of your co-secretaries. Thus, some news about the rest of you. What is our theme this month? Is it classmates who have won some award at work? Nope, too many of those. Those who have been paroled from prison? Nope, that would be a whole column about Bob Lucic. Those whose only birthday gift was a single Amazon gift card? Again, Bob Lucic. Now I love Bob as much as the next guy, but he can’t possibly carry an entire column. Maybe a single run-on sentence, but not 500 words.

Suddenly, it hit me: The deadline for this column is on my birthday. I should use the column to highlight those classmates who share that birthday, the birthday buddies column.

Let’s start with a big happy birthday to Kaya Kazmirci. Say it loudly, because Kaya lives very far away. He’s in Turkey, wherever that one is. It’s not clear what Kaya does, but he spends part of his time teaching at Bosphorous University. I have no idea what subject he teaches. I do know that Kaya owns a nightclub and is an avid sailor. Perhaps he teaches mixology—or boating safety.

Our next birthday buddy is Caroline Bergman Gottschalk. Caroline spent her summer on Nantucket, Massachusetts. The remainder of her year is spent in New York, where Caroline is an attorney. Since this is our birthday column, we’ll focus on our birthday, rather than her “other” life. Anyway, neither Derek Chow nor Jan Gordon showed up for our joint birthday party (Nantucket chapter). I don’t know if this makes Caroline feel any better, but Derek and Jan didn’t show up for my birthday party (Woodbridge, Connecticut, chapter) either. Perhaps they were busy at Lucic’s parole hearing. Others who were able to make the birthday bash included true friends Heather Keare, Sarah Warner, and Wendee Hunsinger Lunt.

Evelyn Abernathy shares our birthday. Evelyn, who is a pathologist, lives not 10 minutes from my house. Accordingly, Evelyn and I will host a joint birthday party (Woodbridge) next year. For that one day, her friends will be my friends. And she can share my friend, if he shows up.

The deadline for this column is several months prior to publication. By the time you read this, our birthday is in the distant past. Feel bad? You should.

Can you make it up to us? Of course. Simply remember to send a belated happy birthday to all of us, along with an extra big gift because you forgot the actual birthday and needed Grubman to remind you.

You’re welcome.

—Eric Grubman, 2 Fox Den Way, Woodbridge, CT 06525; (203) 710-7933; grubman@sbcglobal.net; Juliet Aires Giglio, 4915 Bentbrook Drive, Manlius NY 13104; julietgiglio@gmail.com