I was walking down Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs, CO the first week of January when the familiar “ding” came from my cell phone. I had a new message. “Can you call me right away? Danielle”. Hmmmmm, when you get an urgent message from your financial advisor, you drop what you’re doing and call! She told me a reporter that had sought her out for comments a couple of times wanted to know if she had a client who would be willing to be interviewed for an article on widowhood and retirement. Danielle immediately thought of me and my journey and wanted to know if I was interested. I was thrilled that she thought of me but when I found out it was for the NYTimes, I must say I was at a loss for words. Yes. Me. At a loss for words. Hard to imagine, isn’t it?
After receiving the contact information, I sent an e-mail introduction to Kerry Hannon. Kerry has written 10 books on women and finance and finding your dream job, including “Finding the Job You Want After 50 For Dummies” and “Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness”. We arranged to have a phone conversation the following Wednesday. I was a little bit nervous. And a whole lot excited!
Wednesday found me at a table in my go-to coffee shop…The Bluebird Cafe in Glenwood. I moved to that little town in 1986 so I saw many familiar faces as I waited for my call. Wouldn’t it be lovely if my ex-husband were to come in and say hello, only to be interrupted by the phone ringing. “Oh, my gosh! Sorry, I have to take this…it’s the NYTimes calling for my interview. SO good to see you! Kiss, kiss!” (Sorry, I couldn’t resist that. Actually, he was thrilled for me when I shared the link with him yesterday. He’s a good guy!)
Kerry quickly put me at ease and we had a wonderful, hour-long animated conversation. We not only talked about my loss and the subsequent financial issues. We also talked about writing books and publishing. She was very gracious and offered some connections, one of which I have made. I feel like I’ve made another friend and I hope our paths cross again.
So, here it is…the long awaited article. Kerry is a lovely writer and the photographer caught me in a pensive moment as I was listening to some of the Sisters on the Fly chat right outside the trailer door at the Denver Fly Fishing Show. The online version here went live yesterday and the print version is available on newsstands today. The article is in the finance section. There’s good advice here. I hope it helps and I’m so terribly honored to have been featured.
❤️
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Philippians 2:3-4 NIV