Retired? I don't think so! Louella Torrence

Editor's Note: When costumers retire, they don’t really retire…they just find a new way to channel their creativity! Pam Markel, immediate past president of the NCA, contributes a column to NCA Today that highlights the activities of retired members. In this edition she describes the post-retirement endeavors of Louella Torrence, who is the treasurer of the NCA.

By Pam Markel

       I absolutely love to interview our retired members. I learn so much about them and all the interesting things they are involved in after retirement. However, there is one NCA person that never fails to surprise me or make me laugh.

      Louella Torrence sent me this wonderful story about her retirement that I can only share in her words. Here goes…….

     “So, you want to know what a costumer does when she retires!!!! You second guess your collection of hats, and you swear you will never ever acquire another button.

     I decided to learn to draw. I took classes at the Senior Center, first drawing, then painting. I love drawing with pencil or pen. Drawings of Victorian homes, castles, (my current project is Cinderella’s castle) and buildings that are falling apart.

       My next project was writing a book about my late husband Rocky and my adventures – called “Bad Decisions Often Make Good Stories.” I tried to include all the trips we went on before and after NCA conventions. Rocky could not just go to a Costumers convention, he had to have side trips. Like the convention in Savannah, Georgia. We went to dinner with a few NCA members to Tybee Island, after which we decided to go to the beach. It was a long walk from the parking lot, so Rocky decided he would drive to the beach on a road marked Authorized Vehicles only. We got stuck in the sand, AAA was called, Cops were called (they got stuck too) and a tow truck came but couldn’t get him out. Dennis Markel, one of our fellow riders, asked a neighbor if he could pull him out and he could. Three hours later we were finally on our way back to the convention hotel. We never laughed so much. (There is a lot more to the story you will have to ask me about.)

     I started the book out by saying I had to marry Rocky to find out his real name???

     I also went back to making Doll Houses. I didn’t have time for it while I had the store.

      I have a country store that is finished (almost), a haunted house that is almost done and a two-story house with seven rooms, which is a long way from being done. Miniatures are such fun. And……I can use my buttons for miniatures.” Louella.

There is never a dull moment with Louella, and there is always, always a back story. I don’t think her life will ever be uneventful.