Learning to sew at 12-years-old began the journey of my life. A friend’s mother taught me how to use a sewing machine and how to work with patterns. My great grandmother was a tailor, but other than that, sewing escaped everyone else in my immediate family. At 13, I made dresses for my mother and myself while finding great satisfaction in the challenge. It’s interesting how all of us find something or someone in this world that is meant to be a part of our destiny. After high school, I attended design school in San Francisco and shortly after, met my husband, got married and had our first child. My love of sewing then allowed me to start my own business selling and creating custom window coverings. Retirement was calling me last year so after over 40 years of working in some amazing homes and for some great clients, I closed up shop. It took a while to get used to the realization that I am not needed anymore to be someone’s full time mom or to pursue my career. Once I got past feeling a little useless, I decided that I’m not going to look back because that was then and this is now. One day, it dawned on me that at each stage of our lives, we need to reinvent ourselves. After a personal loss, retirement or just one of those unexpected curves in life that warrants an ending, we at some point, need to start anew.
Reinventing myself is what I am now trying to achieve. I don’t mean becoming a size 0 or following my fantasy of being a six-foot-tall blues singer in a leather mini skirt. I am talking about letting what I have already accomplished in life be complete by letting myself return to the core of who I want to be at this stage of my life. This has allowed me to realize that I still have dreams and a lot of life left as a senior. Living is never without hiccups but as my mom always said, even in trying times, “Isn’t life great?” She always had a deep appreciation for what was good in her life and a keen sense for coping when life was hard. Without the demands of full time work and raising a family, I am now choosing to do what I want to do instead of just what I need to do, except of course, washing dishes and doing laundry.
My ‘Genie in a Bottle’ has not appeared yet, unfortunately. Our choices can help us be part of the solutions in our life and the world instead of being part of the problem. We should all strive to leave worthwhile footprints for the generations that will follow. Let’s all try something new in our lives. Begin with a new hobby, volunteer to help someone less fortunate or fearlessly try something that you have always thought you might have a talent for. Reinvention can be exciting and fulfilling, you’re never too old and it’s never too late!
Our group, The Escalon Senior Fun Bunch provides monthly newsletters and monthly social events. Our events will continue on a regular basis when it is safe to do so. If you are interested in joining our group, please call: Ann (209) 505-7854 or annshaddix@yaho.com. If you are a member and are in need of anything, please let us know.
