It's expected that athletes will slowly decline in ability as they age. Every athlete accepts that. But not every professor does. It seems more or less forbidden to talk about what happens to academics as they age. There is virtual silence about the kind of age-associated changes that affect teaching, learning, and research. Baby boomers, known for their willingness to talk about everything having to do with themselves, have been open on issues from breast cancer to erectile dysfunction, empty-nest syndrome, and depression--but in academe, no one dares utter the word "old." Is this because professors think that the intellect is ageless, and in an era of Botox and Viagra, there should be no excuse for the vagaries of time? Or are they just worried about keeping their jobs? In this article, the author contends that intellectually, practically, and socially, aging takes a particular kind of toll on professors. It also offers them perspective, experience, and opportunities to give back to the profession.