encore performance #2..
encore performances...#2
This post is a continuation of stories about people who have retired, only to start his or her Encore Performance, so named by a good friend of H?WUWT?.
After retiring, Tom waited four months before he decided to seek an Encore Performance.
This post is a continuation of stories about people who have retired, only to start his or her Encore Performance, so named by a good friend of H?WUWT?.
The expression fit perfectly as the transition from broadcast to teaching became a reality. Recently retired from a radio/television career, it was a golden opportunity to teach others how an amazing medium could influence our hearts and minds.
Just like the previous Encore post, unless otherwise noted, each person's real first name is used. Prior to Covid-19, H?WUWT? had talked to about 40 individuals and asked each one how he or she spends his or her time now that each no longer has career obligations.
After listening to the first dozen or so people, it was clear most of them had an enthusiasm for life; each one was excited about what they were doing; and, though sometimes wistful about the past, both men and women seemed to be looking forward and not into a rearview mirror; and clearly, each one wanted to be relevant.
Just like the previous Encore post, unless otherwise noted, each person's real first name is used. Prior to Covid-19, H?WUWT? had talked to about 40 individuals and asked each one how he or she spends his or her time now that each no longer has career obligations.
After listening to the first dozen or so people, it was clear most of them had an enthusiasm for life; each one was excited about what they were doing; and, though sometimes wistful about the past, both men and women seemed to be looking forward and not into a rearview mirror; and clearly, each one wanted to be relevant.
Here are some of those interviews for the second chapter of this series.
Our first performer is another retired broadcaster He is also a good friend of H?WUWT.
Tom was a television sports anchor in Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Fort Wayne and Denver.
Choosing to enter the television sales arena after leaving his last on-air position, he finished his broadcast career in 2007 as a commercial sales rep for Comcast Cable in Indianapolis. After retiring, Tom waited four months before he decided to seek an Encore Performance.
Since that time, he has been a substitute teacher at a private Catholic high school. I want to make a difference with young people as they start taking on life's challenges, he said.
The job is perfect for him because he and his wife Betty love to travel and they have the time to hit the road.
New Zealand is his favorite travel spot, though Tom and Betty have been to Australia, Italy, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Canada, Nova Scotia, Prince Edwards Island, Quebec City, Newfoundland, and Hawaii, not to mention all across America.
37 years ago, a friend of Tom's suggested to Betty that she buy a round-trip ticket to Las Vegas for Tom's 40th birthday present. She did just that and the Vegas Trip has been an annual event ever since. The excursion has become known as The Annual and other friends now accompany Tom and his buddy.
Our next Encore Performer is Bob who is 73. Bob spent 30 of those years selling and buying homes as a real estate agent. He chose to retire seven years ago and has been driving a limo as an independent contractor ever since.
Richard Dreyfuss, Henry Winkler, William Shatner, and Alice Cooper all have ridden in Bob's limo at one time or another. He has chauffeured such luminaries to Kentucky Derby events, Barnstable Twin's Derby parties (remember the Double-Mint twins?), trips to Cincinnati, weddings, and Bourbon Trail Tours ( Kentucky distilleries within a 50 mile radius of Louisville).
Recently, Bob drove a couple from Palo Alto, California on a three-day Bourbon Trail Tour. The Bourbon Trail is a road trip specifically for bourbon lovers that takes visitors across the state to its 38 distilleries.
New Zealand is his favorite travel spot, though Tom and Betty have been to Australia, Italy, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Canada, Nova Scotia, Prince Edwards Island, Quebec City, Newfoundland, and Hawaii, not to mention all across America.
37 years ago, a friend of Tom's suggested to Betty that she buy a round-trip ticket to Las Vegas for Tom's 40th birthday present. She did just that and the Vegas Trip has been an annual event ever since. The excursion has become known as The Annual and other friends now accompany Tom and his buddy.
Our next Encore Performer is Bob who is 73. Bob spent 30 of those years selling and buying homes as a real estate agent. He chose to retire seven years ago and has been driving a limo as an independent contractor ever since.
Richard Dreyfuss, Henry Winkler, William Shatner, and Alice Cooper all have ridden in Bob's limo at one time or another. He has chauffeured such luminaries to Kentucky Derby events, Barnstable Twin's Derby parties (remember the Double-Mint twins?), trips to Cincinnati, weddings, and Bourbon Trail Tours ( Kentucky distilleries within a 50 mile radius of Louisville).
Recently, Bob drove a couple from Palo Alto, California on a three-day Bourbon Trail Tour. The Bourbon Trail is a road trip specifically for bourbon lovers that takes visitors across the state to its 38 distilleries.
The Californians wanted to see as many bourbon makers as possible, both large and small. Bob said, They even knew which small distillery had bantam quantities of bourbon for sale and purchased some of the most exclusive spirits.
After giving Bob a gratuity that was more than the cost of the excursion, the chauffeur said the couple told him, This is every bit as fabulous as our wine-country tours where we live.
Bob said he can't imagine doing any other kind of work at this juncture in his journey.
Our next Performer is Mildred, but it's not her real name. She didn't say why, but she said she always wanted to be called Mildred and now she had the opportunity. So, for our story, our guest will forever be known as Mildred.
At first glance, Macy's has a great part-time employee because Mildred has an outgoing personality and a ready smile. She is in her late 60s and has been with the department store for two years.
Mildred left a rewarding career where she was a Chief Development Officer with a non-profit organization for 25 years. I had met hundreds of people over the span of my career and I missed the interaction with people once retirement came, she said.
Our next Performer is Mildred, but it's not her real name. She didn't say why, but she said she always wanted to be called Mildred and now she had the opportunity. So, for our story, our guest will forever be known as Mildred.
At first glance, Macy's has a great part-time employee because Mildred has an outgoing personality and a ready smile. She is in her late 60s and has been with the department store for two years.
Mildred left a rewarding career where she was a Chief Development Officer with a non-profit organization for 25 years. I had met hundreds of people over the span of my career and I missed the interaction with people once retirement came, she said.
How soon after she ended her work did she return to the workforce?
Oh, maybe two weeks, she responded. I knew I had to find something to do for two or three days a week. She went on to say, When you are as used to being involved with people as I was, it's pretty hard to stay confined.
I was working all through high school and college. I still think I want to do something more worthwhile, but we'll see what comes along, she added.
Mildred's husband is a consultant and they have two grown daughters who live in another state. But, Mildred and Joe aren't totally empty nesters because they have a dog and three cats.
Mildred's husband is a consultant and they have two grown daughters who live in another state. But, Mildred and Joe aren't totally empty nesters because they have a dog and three cats.
After CoVid-19 is tamed, it would be interesting to follow up with Mildred. She is almost sure to be involved again in a non-profit.
Dennis is 69 and was a homebuilder for many years before he contemplated retirement.
Dennis is 69 and was a homebuilder for many years before he contemplated retirement.
I was most recently a superintendent with a construction firm prior to pulling the plug, he said. It didn't take long before Dennis said he was far too idle and wanted to return to work. He was inspired to do something in which he was familiar, so he chose home design.
He said, I design six or seven homes a year and it's just perfect. Today, Dennis' creations range from two hundred thousand dollars to two million dollars
The long-time builder draws houses, commercial buildings, and pole barns by utilizing the latest technology. Besides decades of experience in home building and design, he is a self-learner when it comes to today's technology. He also took classes to learn everything about the CAD program he now uses for his designs.
If more action is what Dennis was looking for, he found it. He is a photographer too and spends a lot of time shooting landscape scenes. Along with his love of photography, Dennis is a licensed camera repair specialist and fixes all cameras made by Canon and Poloroid.
After a teaching and school administrator career that spanned 40 years, Ken retired, but went right back at it. I had been selling and buying homes for a number of years while working full-time, so the transition as a part-time realtor was not difficult, he said.
He and his wife, Jody have a daughter and each of them have a son from a previous marriage. All three offspring are out on their own. The two also have a labradoodle named Mitzi.
A few months prior to official retirement, Ken taught a class for future Century 21 agents. At the conclusion of that endeavor, he opened his own realty company and now operates out of his home. He said, Technology has made it possible to never have to go to an office. I love it!
Ken and Jody have done some traveling overseas and plan on taking a cruise once environmental conditions improve.
They both enjoy the water and own a home with a man-made lake out their back door.
He said, I design six or seven homes a year and it's just perfect. Today, Dennis' creations range from two hundred thousand dollars to two million dollars
The long-time builder draws houses, commercial buildings, and pole barns by utilizing the latest technology. Besides decades of experience in home building and design, he is a self-learner when it comes to today's technology. He also took classes to learn everything about the CAD program he now uses for his designs.
If more action is what Dennis was looking for, he found it. He is a photographer too and spends a lot of time shooting landscape scenes. Along with his love of photography, Dennis is a licensed camera repair specialist and fixes all cameras made by Canon and Poloroid.
After a teaching and school administrator career that spanned 40 years, Ken retired, but went right back at it. I had been selling and buying homes for a number of years while working full-time, so the transition as a part-time realtor was not difficult, he said.
He and his wife, Jody have a daughter and each of them have a son from a previous marriage. All three offspring are out on their own. The two also have a labradoodle named Mitzi.
A few months prior to official retirement, Ken taught a class for future Century 21 agents. At the conclusion of that endeavor, he opened his own realty company and now operates out of his home. He said, Technology has made it possible to never have to go to an office. I love it!
Ken and Jody have done some traveling overseas and plan on taking a cruise once environmental conditions improve.
They both enjoy the water and own a home with a man-made lake out their back door.
Jody spent her career in education too, and after both of them retired, the twosome bought a pontoon that's docked on their private lake. A great opportunity for these two retirees to sail off in the sunset.
You will meet more Encore Performers down the road. But, next time, you will meet some amazing artists.
This retirement gig isn't for everyone. But, in the final analysis, it's all part of the deal. CBS television commentator Andy Rooney may have said it best:
It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.
HUH? What's up with that?
Comments