I was a long time banker, having started in the business at sixteen as a co-op student filing checks at a bank after school. I worked 26 years at two different banks, but after a year in 2004 of life changing tragedy it was time to make a decision.
Scary as it was, walking away from a long career was the best thing I ever did. I went back to graduate school and got my Masters of Information degree. (You can read about life in school as a 50 year old on the early entries of this blog.) I even got to work in a library – and enjoyed every minute of it all. But the economy being what it was in 2008 I probably graduated at the wrong time. Communities everywhere around me were cutting positions in libraries. Some were even closing their libraries down completely. So after a year of doing work I really loved I ended up unemployed for the first time in my life.
The reality was that I had to go back to work for my old employer. I’m just lucky I had something to fall back on and that they welcomed me back with open arms. So I worked back at the bank for five years until the economy stabilized enough to feel safe in retiring. And in June of 2015 I retired from banking again. This time for good. Now I have time for more adventures, more naps, more cooking, more reading. Maybe some of it will be interesting enough to end up in the blog. We’ll see.
So here’s the story of a banker turned librarian turned banker again, who is finally a retiree! It’s a wonderful life, thanks for coming along for the ride!
February 13, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Congratulations Dawn. It is the wise person who realizes that life is to be lived doing what makes your heart sing, whether it’s banking, writing, going to school or ……..? I always knew you were a smart girl. You were and are one of my favorite people. Follow your heart! Barb
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April 18, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Nice post, animals are the best.
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September 2, 2011 at 8:19 pm
I’m so glad I wandered over from Katybeth’s Odd site. 🙂 I see that we are fans of some of the same blogs.
I LOVE that you went to grad school and believe in the importance of libraries. The cutbacks in our city break my heart. Our library parking lot is usually packed. At times like these, people need libraries more than ever. I know you must be frustrated, but you certainly get an Atta Girl from me!
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April 20, 2015 at 1:44 pm
Just discovered your blog after seeing it shared on Facebook. Looking forward to reading more of your posts. I live in Rose Township which is spitting distance from Davisburg. I, along with a few other ladies, decorate downtown Davisburg at Christmas. Keep an eye out for the new stone planters our club is having installed downtown and at the library this summer.
Oh, and, I am Mommy to an 18m old Aussie.
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June 2, 2015 at 9:36 am
Hi there! Didn’t realize you had commented here! Do you ever take your 18 mos old Aussie to the park next door to the library? I go there with Katie pretty regularly…I call it Katie’s park! We should meet up for a walk.
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December 25, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Merry Christmas Katie n’ Dawn,,, My dad is getting the truck n’ camper pointed NNW into the wind that’s coming our way,, he just brushed me to get my baby fur loose, cause I’ve been shedding a lot this past week like crazy,, dad been sweeping the camper out almost every day,,,, oh oh he’s coming ,, I must get off the PC before he see’s me,,,, Lady Piper
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December 25, 2015 at 8:32 pm
Merry Christmas Lady Piper! I won’t tell him! Have a great weekend with your Dad!
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August 18, 2016 at 10:54 pm
Good to know about you, Dawn. Looking forward to your experiences. I will see you around.
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August 25, 2016 at 11:16 am
Thanks for stopping by! I hope to see you around too!
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August 25, 2016 at 10:45 am
Glad that you finally got to a place you’ll enjoy. I don’t think I could ever bank b/c I’m so bad about counting money. Not that I can’t count, it’s just that I get a little nervous and have to re-count. If my count is off the second time…I have to count it 2 more times to make sure that I get the same number again. I know, right? I think they would fire me by my 3rd customer! 😉
You have such a cute doggie. We have a black lab and a shepherd mix. Did you see that adorable black lab pup on the Today Show?
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August 25, 2016 at 11:16 am
Thanks for stopping by! Luckily I was only a teller for a few months years ago when I was young! Most of the time I worked in the back office approving mortgages. I’m glad to be retired from all of it now. Yes Katie is cute…she knows it too. I did see the black lab on Today. Cute little guy!
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August 25, 2016 at 11:23 am
Awwwww, you saw Charlie! I’m not a big morning show person, but that pup has me hooked. 😉
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January 22, 2017 at 8:00 am
I look forward to getting to know you, and learning from you, too. I’m newly retired as well and have returned to blogging after 14 months hiatus.
I enjoyed your post “Respect” and share your sentiment. Part of the reason I came back to the blogs was to understand the “other.” I’m afraid that is impossible, but I want to examine that some more, because it does take two to have a conflict.
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February 6, 2017 at 7:01 pm
Yes it does take two to have a conflict. I’m trying not to…but it’s really hard for me to like this particular president,
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February 6, 2017 at 9:07 am
Good looking dog, looks like Lassie
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February 6, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Thank you. Sometimes people call shelties mini lassies. They’re not really related to collies. They come from the Shetland Islands…and they are crazy, smart (smarter than me) and fun loving.
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June 12, 2017 at 7:22 pm
I remember 2008. My daughter graduated in 2007 and worked part-time for two jobs for several years and landed on a full time job in 2010 or 2011. The housing market was crumbing down and many homes went to foreclosure. I’m glad you’re retired safely and enjoy your retirement.
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June 13, 2017 at 10:07 am
It was a very scary time. I got to work in a library for almost one year before I got laid off. Then back to the bank. That was hard. But I guess it makes enjoying retirement that much sweeter now! Thanks for following my blog!
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June 13, 2017 at 5:50 pm
Likewise! When she was discouraged in finding a full time job, I said, you may have to have for many years. Lots of people lost their jobs and looking, plus all the new grads for many years. Even my husband had to go back to school to get his MRI/CT licenses to go back to work because his medical service business was not doing well!
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June 3, 2018 at 11:06 am
Thanks for the follow but I don’t see a follow button on your site. I can follow on my Reader but I have to admit that I rarely go there. Am I missing the ‘join’ button?
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June 3, 2018 at 9:13 pm
Hmmmm…wonder where that went? I’ll have to try to find out what happened to it. I am sooooo not technical.
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May 21, 2019 at 10:00 pm
Hi, Dawn – I stopped by for a quick look around and already love this site. We seem to have much in common. We both retired less than one month apart. I also grew up in Windsor, Ontario….and spent much of my youth in Detroit. I tried to find a follow button for this blog but couldn’t. I’d love to follow your writing…how do I sign up?
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May 21, 2019 at 10:19 pm
Hmmmm…I don’t know where it went….let me work on that.
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May 22, 2019 at 7:23 am
I think I fixed the ‘follow” button. Stop by now and scroll down to the very bottom, on the right. Hope it works, let me know if it does not.
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February 13, 2023 at 11:41 am
Dawn, could you email me at dogmysteries@gmail.com? It’s about my Waterside Kennels blog at dogmysteries. com; I have a quick question.Thanks!
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