Ron: Thanks for sharing your retirement experience. I enjoyed our time at the Daily News so many years ago. Be well. I also teach high schoolers interested in journalism as part of a nearby university program. They keep me young.
Ron: It's so wonderful to read what you've been up to in the years since we last saw each other. What a meaningful way to contribute to the world that you covered for so long. Well done, friend. - Pam Ferdinand
The University of St. Thomas runs the 360 program which I have been a volunteer and booster of for past 2 decades. It offers high school kids from mostly public schools a hands on experience in learning journalism in all media. I’m semi retired, recently did a piece for the Boston Globe on my Red Sox loving son, and keeping multiple myeloma at bay with monthly chemo sessions. Great to hear from you and read about you.
Ron— you may remember me as Daphne Miller in JSchool. After being adopted by my stepfather as a child and taking his name, then marrying twice and taking two husband’s names, I finally took back my maiden name (Larkin). Whew! (And terrible for a journalist to keep changing her last name.)
Anyway, to get to what I wanted to say to you: I loved reading your Newsletter about your last five years or so teaching. It had special meaning for me, as, like you’ve experienced, family members and friends are dying and we search for meaning in our lives, that you’ve found something profoundly significant to do with the time you have left.
You must write a memoir! I’d buy it.
I teach memoir writing now — after working on mine for 20 years and finally deciding to put it in a drawer for several good reasons. I’m teaching 18 - 90 year olds (so far) in the Southern Appalachians in western NC near Asheville. My
husband (my third and no I didn’t take his name) and I moved here from Napa Valley in 2017.
It’s an extraordinary experience teaching memoir writing and reading and critiquing others’ work. If you write your memoir you can come talk to one of my classes! (And stay with us.)
What a great post -- thanks for sharing Ron, and for including a bit about your time here at Liger. We think back on it fondly. Those students you helped tutor are now at universities across the globe, from Northwestern and University of British Colombia, to Dartmouth and Nagoya in Japan. Perhaps, in a way, you helped them get to their own second act after leaving such a formative place. <3 Caroline
Hi Caroline! Thank you so much. How and where are you these days? Great to hear the "kids" are doing so well. Sorry that I'm fallen out of touch. How's Liger doing? Do you have an email address for Dom (though, as I recall, he isn't great at responding in a timely manner)
Hi Ron! I am still at Liger - it's our twelfth year here. There is a lot going on, with our most recent cohort having just graduated in June 2023; we have 12 from that group who matriculated to US unis and 9 more putting in applications a month from now. Fingers crossed! I am sure Dom would be glad to hear from you. He is dom.s@ligercambodia.org. Take care!
Wonderful journey of sharing and learning. Looking forward to your contributions to our Nextracks.TV project. There is plenty of life and more stories to tell after ABC. Rock on.
Congratulations on the five year anniversary of your retirement from journalism and the start of your Second Act! I enjoyed reading the recap of your many highlights and was sorry to read of your difficult losses. I remember reading your prior writings, describing some of these same teaching and travel experiences, while I was contemplating my own pending retirement with no real plan in mind. I am now a year and a half into my retirement and other than adjusting to a rather dramatic change in lifestyle, due to a move from an urban area to a small town in the Eastern Sierra’s, I am still trying to figure it out. Time has become even more precious and priorities continue to evolve. Your Second Act continues to provide inspiration and motivation. I admire all that you have accomplished in these past five years, incorporating your many talents with what is meaningful to you, with what you enjoy. Thank you for sharing your journey.
We all -- almost all of us -- sooner or later have to deal with loss. It's painful and sobering and sad, but we have to keep living, keep finding meaning or just pleasure where we can. I certainly know that retirement can be a difficult adjustment. I was fortunate. It came at the right stage and age of life for me. And, yes, I agree: time has become more precious. I find myself reading more and more biographies instead of fiction to help me understand how others chose to live their lives. And yet, in my own life, I am focused on the present and future. Not looking back.
Your journey is so worthy, and such a good one. I actually have a near opposite experience. I retired after 30 years in a Southern Calif. classroom teaching high school English and Journalism. My "second act" is now in the Pacific Northwest as a freelance journalist and writer. I'd like the work to be more regular, but it is fulfilling and enjoyable when I get to do it.
That's very funny -- the reverse symmetry of our transitions. It's great that you find it so enjoyable and that you would like more. That's a very good sign.
Ron, miss you on Sunday morning. You always kept the younger whipper snappers in order. I still remember one of my high school teachers, Mr. Pierce's comments about teaching and learning. He always said, "ignorance should be painful". After 40 plus years of managing, teaching and mentoring thousands of employees, I understand his comments more now than ever before.
What a wonderful story! You have always been great at what you do! You've made me realize that when I say I've retired all that really means is that I decide what I do with my time and the pay is what not only I but what others get out of my being here.
Sounds like you should be teaching how to live a meaningful life well into retirement! I am so happy you are enjoying your life. You are doing great things Ron.
Thank you Ron for continuing to write. I've enjoyed your articles. As a very recent retiree, I feel inspired that our second/third/fourth acts can sometimes be our BEST.
Thank you and please let me know what you turn to doing. It can be an adjustment but it can also be a beautiful opportunity. I also make the point too that what you do doesn't have to be something weighted in "meaning." It can be fun. Or to satisfy your curiosity or to explore something entirely new for you.
Well, I'm trying. That's all you can do. Teaching is funny that way. It's hard to know if you're having an effect. Most young people don't come out to say so. And, sure, probably you won't have a huge impact on most of them. You plant the seeds and water the ground. You never know what will grow.
Ron: Thanks for sharing your retirement experience. I enjoyed our time at the Daily News so many years ago. Be well. I also teach high schoolers interested in journalism as part of a nearby university program. They keep me young.
Thanks Ruben! Great to hear from you and thank you. How are you doing, man? Tell me more about the h.s. program. Are you still in MN?
Ron: It's so wonderful to read what you've been up to in the years since we last saw each other. What a meaningful way to contribute to the world that you covered for so long. Well done, friend. - Pam Ferdinand
The University of St. Thomas runs the 360 program which I have been a volunteer and booster of for past 2 decades. It offers high school kids from mostly public schools a hands on experience in learning journalism in all media. I’m semi retired, recently did a piece for the Boston Globe on my Red Sox loving son, and keeping multiple myeloma at bay with monthly chemo sessions. Great to hear from you and read about you.
Ron— you may remember me as Daphne Miller in JSchool. After being adopted by my stepfather as a child and taking his name, then marrying twice and taking two husband’s names, I finally took back my maiden name (Larkin). Whew! (And terrible for a journalist to keep changing her last name.)
Anyway, to get to what I wanted to say to you: I loved reading your Newsletter about your last five years or so teaching. It had special meaning for me, as, like you’ve experienced, family members and friends are dying and we search for meaning in our lives, that you’ve found something profoundly significant to do with the time you have left.
You must write a memoir! I’d buy it.
I teach memoir writing now — after working on mine for 20 years and finally deciding to put it in a drawer for several good reasons. I’m teaching 18 - 90 year olds (so far) in the Southern Appalachians in western NC near Asheville. My
husband (my third and no I didn’t take his name) and I moved here from Napa Valley in 2017.
It’s an extraordinary experience teaching memoir writing and reading and critiquing others’ work. If you write your memoir you can come talk to one of my classes! (And stay with us.)
Stay in touch.
Daphne
Daphne@daphnelarkin.com
What a great post -- thanks for sharing Ron, and for including a bit about your time here at Liger. We think back on it fondly. Those students you helped tutor are now at universities across the globe, from Northwestern and University of British Colombia, to Dartmouth and Nagoya in Japan. Perhaps, in a way, you helped them get to their own second act after leaving such a formative place. <3 Caroline
Hi Caroline! Thank you so much. How and where are you these days? Great to hear the "kids" are doing so well. Sorry that I'm fallen out of touch. How's Liger doing? Do you have an email address for Dom (though, as I recall, he isn't great at responding in a timely manner)
Hi Ron! I am still at Liger - it's our twelfth year here. There is a lot going on, with our most recent cohort having just graduated in June 2023; we have 12 from that group who matriculated to US unis and 9 more putting in applications a month from now. Fingers crossed! I am sure Dom would be glad to hear from you. He is dom.s@ligercambodia.org. Take care!
Wonderful journey of sharing and learning. Looking forward to your contributions to our Nextracks.TV project. There is plenty of life and more stories to tell after ABC. Rock on.
I'm keep rockin' till I'm in a rocker, General!
Congratulations on the five year anniversary of your retirement from journalism and the start of your Second Act! I enjoyed reading the recap of your many highlights and was sorry to read of your difficult losses. I remember reading your prior writings, describing some of these same teaching and travel experiences, while I was contemplating my own pending retirement with no real plan in mind. I am now a year and a half into my retirement and other than adjusting to a rather dramatic change in lifestyle, due to a move from an urban area to a small town in the Eastern Sierra’s, I am still trying to figure it out. Time has become even more precious and priorities continue to evolve. Your Second Act continues to provide inspiration and motivation. I admire all that you have accomplished in these past five years, incorporating your many talents with what is meaningful to you, with what you enjoy. Thank you for sharing your journey.
We all -- almost all of us -- sooner or later have to deal with loss. It's painful and sobering and sad, but we have to keep living, keep finding meaning or just pleasure where we can. I certainly know that retirement can be a difficult adjustment. I was fortunate. It came at the right stage and age of life for me. And, yes, I agree: time has become more precious. I find myself reading more and more biographies instead of fiction to help me understand how others chose to live their lives. And yet, in my own life, I am focused on the present and future. Not looking back.
Thanks for writing.
Your journey is so worthy, and such a good one. I actually have a near opposite experience. I retired after 30 years in a Southern Calif. classroom teaching high school English and Journalism. My "second act" is now in the Pacific Northwest as a freelance journalist and writer. I'd like the work to be more regular, but it is fulfilling and enjoyable when I get to do it.
That's very funny -- the reverse symmetry of our transitions. It's great that you find it so enjoyable and that you would like more. That's a very good sign.
Nice piece pops! Can you get us some tickets to Emmett’s Place?
Thanks, Cheetah. I never even heard of it till I read about it. That's how hip I am.
t
Ron, miss you on Sunday morning. You always kept the younger whipper snappers in order. I still remember one of my high school teachers, Mr. Pierce's comments about teaching and learning. He always said, "ignorance should be painful". After 40 plus years of managing, teaching and mentoring thousands of employees, I understand his comments more now than ever before.
Thank you. What an amazing expression. I'd never heard that and it so. so true. You can be sure I will be citing it in the future.
What a wonderful story! You have always been great at what you do! You've made me realize that when I say I've retired all that really means is that I decide what I do with my time and the pay is what not only I but what others get out of my being here.
And let's definitely play golf soon!
Best,
Peter I.
Thanks, Peter. And that's a very good definition of retirement. A synonym -- at least for some -- is liberation.
Golf would be great but we're running out of good weather, my friend!
Sounds like you should be teaching how to live a meaningful life well into retirement! I am so happy you are enjoying your life. You are doing great things Ron.
I'[m staying busy doing some things that I can only hope help someone -- later, if not now. You never know.
It's a lucky student who lands in your class. Those are some engaged, happy learners.
Thank you, Doris!!
Thank you Ron for continuing to write. I've enjoyed your articles. As a very recent retiree, I feel inspired that our second/third/fourth acts can sometimes be our BEST.
Thank you and please let me know what you turn to doing. It can be an adjustment but it can also be a beautiful opportunity. I also make the point too that what you do doesn't have to be something weighted in "meaning." It can be fun. Or to satisfy your curiosity or to explore something entirely new for you.
Ron, Thank you for sharing your story. You are doing a lot of great things….I miss you on TV but you are doing good work post TV.
Well, I'm trying. That's all you can do. Teaching is funny that way. It's hard to know if you're having an effect. Most young people don't come out to say so. And, sure, probably you won't have a huge impact on most of them. You plant the seeds and water the ground. You never know what will grow.