Enjoying Retirement Opportunities (Especially Quilting, Family and Friends!)

For some weeks now, I’ve been debating how to start this new blog. Should I start it with “Hello” or some other salutation? Should I just start with my name and status in life? Should I tell you why I’m here online? How do you introduce yourself in a blog?

My entire career has been based in writing. Search for Kari Hawkins online and you will find stories that I’ve written as a Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Army, as a reporter for The Redstone Rocket and as a journalist for the now defunct Huntsville Times (Ala.) and other publications. Pre-Internet, I was a writer for The Decatur Daily (Ala.) and the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (Tupelo, Miss.). Other positions with The Boeing Co. and the Chamber of Commerce, both in Huntsville, Ala., also involved writing for various publications.

Most recently, I wrote a story based on one of my passions – quilting, specifically quilting a 60th birthday year quilt – for McCall’s Quilting and Quilting Daily.com. (Kari's Birthday Quilt on Quilting Daily) The story was released at about the same time I retired from my Public Affairs position with the U.S. Army Materiel Command (Kari's Retirement Ceremony). 

I retired at the age of 62.5, still fairly happy in the workplace, and still brimming with energy for leading, communicating and writing. But, I wanted something different -- more time to pursue my passions and my relationships with family and friends, more time for the home arts related to caring for my family’s well-being, more time to contribute to society in ways that compel and satisfy an inner need to make a difference … and more time for the highly creative and time consuming art form of quilting.

Fortunately, my husband, although older than myself, was not ready to retire. 

And, fortunately, our financial situation allowed me the freedom to make the leap into retirement. So, here I am … sewing and quilting nearly daily, providing support to my family, spending time with friends and with quilting and sewing groups, leading within various interest organizations, volunteering and … writing this blog.  

So, here we are, full circle. Hello, my name is Kari Hawkins and this blog is named Kari’s Creations and Musings. I’m enjoying retirement, and all the opportunities and discoveries before me, and I hope you will enjoy my blog. Until next time …

Hugs and Hope,

Kari

 

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