Even my father has a subscription to his college alumnus magazine. Don’t think he has ever come across articles about former classmates leading better lives than him. There are pages of graduates’ death notices though.
The way this works, when your company promotes you, they issue a press release and a copy goes to your university alumni association. If you don’t appear in the alumni magazine, the company does not issue press releases on mid-level promotions.
A lot of my friends died young.
Best HS friend wrapped a new Corvette (18th birthday gift) around a tree at high speed, killing himself and a girl we both dated.
Two Freshman roommates flunked out, got drafted and died in Viet Nam.
I don’t think my parents ever subscribed, but we do get the occasional USD Alum magazine. And even then they don’t look at them so I have no idea if they know the ones featured.
Not familiar with those magazines at all. I can’t imagine what they could possibly fill them with besides death notices, reunion dates and advertisements.
A company I worked for had a monthly, then quarterly magazine. Aside from the usual self promotion articles and standout employee profiles, it had an obituary section in the back. I found my hero there – he worked for 20 yrs, from age 21 to 41, then retired with full pension and went camping, fishing, and traveling for the next 40 years.
Well you can’t believe everything you read, people tend to embellish just a bit. Like, the alumnus who “has 500 people under him” actually works at a cemetery – he cuts the grass each week.
We don’t subscribe to our university newsletter, but we keep in contact with some of our friends from college. One did extremely well career wise while maintaining a good gamily life with their college sweetheart. Others, not so much.
The ones who are the saddest are those whose family life fell apart and I really feel for them. Having a good family is “doing better” than having a great job and hell at home.
I don’t “follow” any of my old classmates, though I do occasionally look up one or another, out of curiosity. They mostly seem to lead (or have led) “more successful” lives, but mine has been much more varied and (IMO) more interesting.
Templo S.U.D. almost 3 years ago
Even my father has a subscription to his college alumnus magazine. Don’t think he has ever come across articles about former classmates leading better lives than him. There are pages of graduates’ death notices though.
Bullet Bronson Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Pencil pushers are the foundation of our civilization.
-Saint- almost 3 years ago
Roger should take heart – at least he is doing better than those classmates that have passed on…
mourdac Premium Member almost 3 years ago
And how many still have their hair? But he struck gold with his wife, the most important.
dflak almost 3 years ago
Hey wait! I’m a pencil pusher.
Katzen1415 almost 3 years ago
I am giddy right now. My favorite arc in all of Foxtrot starts with this strip.
mindjob almost 3 years ago
No matter where I moved, my high school magazine found me. They must have some former FBI agents working there
Ed The Red Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Wow, I haven’t heard the phrase “pencil pusher” in decades. Perhaps we should replace it with “keyboard clickers.”
seismic-2 Premium Member almost 3 years ago
Roger gets especially distraught when he sees the pictures of his classmates who still have all their hair.
Kaputnik almost 3 years ago
It is entirely possible that my entire high school and college classes are doing better than I am. I’m not in touch with any of them.
Vangoghdog01 almost 3 years ago
The way this works, when your company promotes you, they issue a press release and a copy goes to your university alumni association. If you don’t appear in the alumni magazine, the company does not issue press releases on mid-level promotions.
A lot of my friends died young.
Best HS friend wrapped a new Corvette (18th birthday gift) around a tree at high speed, killing himself and a girl we both dated.
Two Freshman roommates flunked out, got drafted and died in Viet Nam.
Third roommate had a heart attack and died at 32
kab2rb almost 3 years ago
Yes there is, more gone to computer neater.
Publius10608218 almost 3 years ago
I don’t think my parents ever subscribed, but we do get the occasional USD Alum magazine. And even then they don’t look at them so I have no idea if they know the ones featured.
Kroykali almost 3 years ago
Not familiar with those magazines at all. I can’t imagine what they could possibly fill them with besides death notices, reunion dates and advertisements.
drycurt almost 3 years ago
A company I worked for had a monthly, then quarterly magazine. Aside from the usual self promotion articles and standout employee profiles, it had an obituary section in the back. I found my hero there – he worked for 20 yrs, from age 21 to 41, then retired with full pension and went camping, fishing, and traveling for the next 40 years.
BiggerNate91 almost 3 years ago
Oh yeah, this arc is a fun one. I recall it’s a three-weeker.
CJ Flintstone almost 3 years ago
Well you can’t believe everything you read, people tend to embellish just a bit. Like, the alumnus who “has 500 people under him” actually works at a cemetery – he cuts the grass each week.
tabby almost 3 years ago
We don’t subscribe to our university newsletter, but we keep in contact with some of our friends from college. One did extremely well career wise while maintaining a good gamily life with their college sweetheart. Others, not so much.
The ones who are the saddest are those whose family life fell apart and I really feel for them. Having a good family is “doing better” than having a great job and hell at home.
gammaguy almost 3 years ago
I don’t “follow” any of my old classmates, though I do occasionally look up one or another, out of curiosity. They mostly seem to lead (or have led) “more successful” lives, but mine has been much more varied and (IMO) more interesting.