COMMAERNTTARY REFIRE NOT RETIRE By John Wilson John Wilson JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 139 It is the second anniversary of my retirement from television. But the word “retirement” needs some adjustment. “Re-firement” is more accurate as I have been recharged to direct my energies and imagination to my family, to my wife of 50 years who supported me through all those long hours and long trips to Saudi Arabia and Moscow, and, of course, to our six talented grandchildren who have recharged us all. I also have an office in my son’s ad agency, Wilson Media, and have been producing and writing commercials, documentaries and feature films. I am finding it a real treat now to volunteer, helping other organizations plan and emcee programs. Mary K and I still sing a bit here and there, but our yard has never looked so good. I never imagined I would ever have a career in landscaping, but I have found a new “me.” I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to plant something I can’t pronounce and watch it grow into a beautiful flower. We now have time to do some of the things we have always wanted to do, like spending more time with our friends and family at my family home in Virginia, which we have not always been able to do because of my demanding schedule. My career in television news literally “anchored” me to my job when most people were with their families and friends. Mary K is still teaching voice to more than a dozen promising students while recovering from a debilitating wrist break that happened shortly after I retired. It took some hard work to get her back on the keyboard at home. Therapy and medical appointments, along with regular shopping trips, would have been impossible for her at the time if I had been working. Luckily, I had time to drive her wherever she needed to go. We made it through that and now we are moving on to more exciting and fun things, because this is retirement. 9 EDITOR’S NOTE: John Wilson ended 50 plus years of radio and television news broadcasting with his final goodbye on WTVT Fox 13 on November 26, 2014, the day before Thanksgiving.
19438TB
To see the actual publication please follow the link above