Karen Weirick-Martin

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE?
I don’t like my age much, but I do like not working and not worrying about what others think about me.

DO YOU LIKE BEING 40+?
I like being more comfortable with myself.

WHEN IN YOUR LIFE, SO FAR, HAVE YOU FELT MOST CONFIDENT, AND WHY?
I’ve felt most confident in my late 30’s and early 40s; I got my pilot’s license when I was 38. I can fly a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, a 4-seater, single-engine airplane. My dad loved it; he was my first passenger after I got my license. My mom never would go up with me.

WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY AT THIS AGE?
I love making people happy; I love helping people rescue cats. I’m a member of Friends of Feline, a trap-neuter-return organization. I volunteer at the Orpheum and enjoy helping out there, ushering, and helping at the concession stand, anywhere they need me.

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?
My superpower is helping cats; I have been involved in rescuing cats for 15-20 years. I currently have three senior cats at home and care for them. The oldest is 17, and the youngest is 10.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
My greatest achievement was getting my private pilot license at 38 years old. I have flown around 1000 hours by now. I also got to fly with a corporate pilot to 40 countries, which was fantastic.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?
I purchased a full-length fur coat because I wanted to do something extravagant for myself.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
I’ve always lived a healthy life.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING YOU HAVE CHECKED OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
I have traveled to many other countries; my favorite trips were to Africa, where I went on a safari. I also really enjoyed Singapore; it felt safe to travel alone.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?
I feel perfectly happy and content when I’m at home with my cats.

WHAT IS A TRAIT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?
I’m easygoing and trustworthy. People know that when they tell me something, they can trust me.

WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENDURED THAT YOU FEEL HAVE MADE YOU STRONGER?
My husband got vascular dementia, and I took care of him for a few years. That was very hard.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
I would tell my younger self to worry less and enjoy the moment more. Don’t worry about stuff; it doesn’t matter.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
Enjoy the moment; you won’t always have your youth.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR FAVORITE QUOTE?
Don’t sweat the small stuff. 

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS?
I appreciate their honesty, and I like having fun with them.

HOW DID YOU CHANGE OVER THE YEARS?
I realized we need to enjoy our time now we’re here and healthy. There are many unexpected things in my life that I’ve gotten to do. All the traveling was unexpected and amazing.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I wouldn’t change anything; I’m happy with who I am. I could be picky about anything, but I’ve had a good life.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS?
A lot of pollution is ruining our environment, and I think that’s scary. I hope that gets better for our future generations.