A Hairstylist for 70 Years Snipped Her Last Strand of Hair as She Retires at Age 92
Being able to have a career related to your passion doesn’t feel like work at all. It’s like any normal day for you because you love what you’re doing. Some days might be tiring, but it doesn’t mean you want to end it. You’ll pause for a while, then find yourself excited to go back to work. Finding happiness in your job gives you enough reason to live. It fuels your passion, and you see yourself doing it for so long. The only time you’ll ever think about ending your career is when you finally choose retirement. Every great journey has a finish line — you have to give yourself a break sometime. It might be saddening to let go of something you love, but all your hard work will not be in vain.
Most importantly, you’ve garnered enough memories to see that you achieved a lot. Also, do not forget that you have touched lives, which made your career even more memorable. You have inspired many people, and even as a senior citizen, your skills remained at a professional level. Clara Petersen is one of those people with a remarkable job history. She stayed in the hairstyling industry for 70 years! Before applying at Uska’s Salon in Fort Myers at 85, she managed two other salons. Her love for hairstyling was limitless, and even in her 80s, she used her talent. Mary Garcia, the owner of Uska’s Salon, couldn’t fathom the fact that an 85-year-old applied as a hairstylist. Clara was adamant about her decision and showed Mary her capabilities. And indeed, she was able to satisfy the hairstyling needs of their clients for seven years.
Since then, Clara rented a chair at Uska’s salon and connected with a lot of people. Clients would even recommend Clara to their friends and family — her love for hairstyling is reflected in her work. Then at 92, Clara officially retired from the industry. The salon organized a retirement party for her, and previous clients who were now her friends attended as well. For the last time, Clara used her tools to cut and style the hair of her last customers in the history of her career. She looked gorgeous on her retirement day at Uska’s salon — wearing heels, a sash, and a tiara. Clara did not even look her age. Perhaps it was the effect of doing something you are passionate about for such a long time.
The inspiring hair stylist from Fort Myers admitted it was a difficult decision to retire. During her interview with NBC2 News, Clara was on the verge of tears as she bid farewell to her career for seven decades. It is never easy to let go of something you’ve done most of your life. Hairstyling became her whole world, and Clara is fortunate to have spent most of her days in the salon. She has now snipped the last strand of hair and is moving towards the next chapter of her life. May her story inspire you to be as passionate as her during your senior years. Watch her heartfelt interview in the video below.
