Hello! My name is Donna Pekar. I’m a two-time cancer survivor, retired corporate communications executive and U.S. Army veteran.
My full-time job is to be a good human, take care of myself, enjoy simple pleasures and indulge in creative pursuits. I especially like to play golf, walk, swim, cook, read, watch crime shows on TV, write and dabble in art.
Retirement Confidential is my personal blog, where I stand up for democratic values and share stories about life after work. All that along with regular dispatches on what I’m eating, what I’m watching and what I’m reading.
I was diagnosed with Stage 3 primary peritoneal cancer (virtually the same as ovarian) in 1999 and have been free of disease since my initial treatment. In 2015, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a bilateral mastectomy without reconstruction. I am BRCA1-positive.
My home is in Northern California, where I live with Dale, my husband of 47 years, and Riley, our cat, a Maine Coon rescue.
Hello Donna! Remember me from Aeronautics? Well I finally succumbed and let my hair go gray….with pandemic timing was perfect! Loving my gray…not sure why I waited so long….well vanity I think. Anyway Jude Olsen provided your blog and sounds like you are living your best life! Good for you!
Hi Christine,
I saw your name as a new subscriber, and I immediately remembered you from Aeronautics. Welcome! So glad you are enjoying your gray hair. I can’t imagine having to worry about roots during this pandemic. You are right — good timing.
Retirement is great.
Hi Donna – I just stumbled on your blog via another that I read on a regular basis. I enjoy your style of writing very much. Your art projects are amazing!! I am also a 2 time Breast Cancer Survivor (wasn’t any fun the second time either) and am learning to slow down and enjoy each day. Glad I found your blog!
Maura
Hi, Maura, and welcome! Cancer was the big stick that helped me learn to slow down and enjoy each day. What I didn’t learn the first time, I most certainly learned the second. I’m glad to hear you are surviving and thriving!
You sound amazing. I just found your blog and look forward to combing through it. You are definitely a survivor — in more ways than one. Good for you.
Thank you, Kate, and welcome. I checked out your blog, and you sound pretty amazing yourself!
Donna, I read your stuff on Jay Harrison’s Boomspeak. I may be misremembering, but I though that I had read a book by you ten years ago or so. Had you published anything? I remember it as humorous short vignettes.
Hi Alan,
I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying Jay Harrison’s Boomspeak. He does a great job, and I’m so proud to be included.
I have not written a book, but some of my stuff has been published here and there. Thank you for asking!
Donna
Oh my God!! I found you! Mentioned you in a blog piece some time back: https://pafoodlife.com/blog/f/wurstsalat
I still make it!
Email me! Would like to catch up!
Hi Donna!
My wife Donna Clayton and I socialized with you and Dale a few times in Huntsville. I thought of you guys waking up this morning (my head is a bag of cats anyway) and wanted to say hi!
Bruce
Hi there! I’ve sent you an email — let’s catch up.
Hi Donna, I’m Brenda. Do you remember me from an army depot in Germany? I was married to Jim. I’ve often thought of you and so happy to see you are well.