A Day In Her Life

Carol’s Bird Spotting Scope mounted on a tripod which she uses to observe birds in nature, most recently a red-tailed hawk.

Carol Besse Talks Books, Birds, and How To Soar Into Retirement.

Moving to Louisville over 40 years ago to start a family and a bookstore, Carol Besse and her husband are the visionaries behind the local favorite Carmichael’s Bookstore. “One of the first jobs I had was working in a bookstore, and I loved it,” Carol says.

Following her passion, she and her husband, Michael, opened Carmichael’s (aptly named from a combination of their first names) on a shoestring budget. They worked tirelessly to create an inspired reading haven which is why today, Carmichael’s is the city’s oldest independently owned bookstore. Retiring two years ago, the couple confidently passed on ownership to their daughter and niece, leaving room for Carol to turn the page to new passions and interests in her life.

DAILY RITUALS:

“I love the freedom to set my own agenda,” Carol says. Her schedule allows for impromptu date nights with her husband or dinner dates with her extended family. “I just love my grandkids to pieces,” Carol says. She goes on to add that being a grandparent is vastly different from parenting. “You can revisit the joys of childhood,” she says.

Carol does have one daily ritual that she keeps consistent and that’s her morning time. She says, “I always have one cup of coffee, read The New York Times, and then do the crossword puzzle.” She’s an early riser because — as the saying goes — “the early bird gets the worm.” But more importantly, as an avid bird-watcher Carol is going to be there to witness the entire event.

RELISHING RETIREMENT:

Twenty years ago on a trip to Costa Rica, Carol discovered her passion for bird-watching. Over the years, her interest has continued to soar and now retirement allows for more time spent in the great outdoors. “You really feel like you’re communing with nature,” Carol begins, “I’ve literally found joy.” Carol explains there are different levels to bird-watching. A bird feeder in a backyard might be enough for some, but traveling all over the world to glimpse the glory of the over 10,000 species of birds may be a goal for others. “It’s a challenging hobby—finding the birds and identifying them,” Carol says.

Carol’s bird-watching experience has led her to serve as the president of both the Beckham Bird Club and the Kentucky Ornithological Society. Carol’s suggestion for those interested in taking on bird-watching as a new hobby: Start by taking a look at a bird’s color. “They’re so spectacular,” Carol says.

Moving down the alphabet from birds to books, Carol’s love for reading hasn’t waned. Also a member of a book club, she says, “I have more time for reading now, and a book club is great because it reinforces relationships.”

RETIREMENT TIPS:

When Carol first stepped into retirement, she took a little break. She says, “My husband and I did nothing for awhile and took it easy.” Her saving grace was having her much beloved bird-watching hobby in place. Carol suggests searching out your passion before retirement. “Choose from activities you’re interested in now,” she says. With your pastime preestablished, you can easily step into a loved pursuit that fills your soul. Then Carol’s advice: “Embrace it.”

Carol’s day wouldn’t be complete without her morning cup of coffee and crossword puzzle.

This Little Free Library was built by Carol and her husband Michael, and stands in front of their home. People are free to drop off and pick up books from this box. They keep an eye on the book supply and add from their own collection.

By Tonilyn Hornung | Photos by Patti Hartog