This year’s gathering at Zastaria for the annual Grand National Steeplechase race on the estate next door was hosted in their usual fine style by Stas Maliszewski and Julia Jitkoff.

This year Stas added a new feature, he invited a friend, Bernie Haykel, a professor of Far Eastern Studies at Princeton and expert on the politics of the Middle East, and his wife, Navina Haidar, a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and an expert on Indian and Islamic Art, to give us “fireside chats” after the races on Saturday. Bernie, Navina, their grown children Alex and Pia, and their dog, Mars, were guests for the weekend and part of all the events. Both talks were engaging and outstanding; we gave them long applause and a ‘66 locomotive.

I picked up two “themes” from the classmates who attended this year. Many of us mentioned that we’re noticing getting older. A number of people who had planned to attend had to cancel because of one or another medical issue – nothing fatal, just something that needed attention and took priority. But several of us voiced the thought that we’re slowing down, and more of us probably thought it. Still, as the saying goes, it’s better than the alternative!

This year, Sarah and I stayed in a hotel Friday night, so my photos begin on Saturday morning, and run through brunch on Sunday. As last year, many of the best shots were taken by John Lumpkin. I like to prowl around with a big telephoto lens taking sneaky candid portraits from across the patio. John uses his phone and takes lots of posed shots of groups and couples. Together we have covered most of the bases. Between us, I think we got at least one decent picture of everyone who was there. If you were there and we missed you, apologies. I have indicated which photos John took, in the captions. If not otherwise attributed, credit or blame me.