"Do I look old?"

I realized – much after 40, I fear – that my incessant, adolescent search for love and the perfect romance was a snare and delusion. At least it was in my case. I was able to put my energy into improving my work, my ethics, my charities and my large circle of loving friends and the wonderful children in my life.

Click here on this text to read my New York Post column.

After 40 you can say "no" about anything.

"Let’s not stay late."

I felt I could say quite a lot after 40 that I couldn’t say before. I turned 40 right after "Sesame Street" went on the air so suddenly a lot of the press and others wanted my opinions on many subjects but mostly on children, poverty and education. And I had plenty to say (and still do) about those subjects and about what was happening to children who did not have the advantages of the middle class. Time Magazine called me "outspoken" and it was for me the best compliment I’d ever had. Even my mother who always worried that "the boys" wouldn’t like me if they knew I had a brain was pleased.