Eighteen long years ago was my first day at Pixar (before it was Pixar Animation Studios). Today, I’m celebrating by taking a bunch of my fellow Pixarians out for pizza and general good times. According to wikipedia, it was also the day that the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party agreed to give up its monopoly power, and the Soviet Union collapsed. Other events from that month: Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison. Exxon was indicted on five criminal counts for the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson. An agreement was reached to reunify Germany.

I was 25, about the same age as many of the kids I work with these days. I’ve spent nearly half of my life working here, and I must admit, through trials and tribulations, ups and downs, it remains a really, really terrific place to work, and I have been truly blessed with getting able to work with some of the most talented and nice people on projects that are truly amazing achievements in movie making.

To any ex-Pixarians I’ve worked with who have moved on, I salute you too.