A new start after 60: I baked a pie every day for a year – and it changed my life
Hacker News
February 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
When Vickie Hardin Woods retired at 61, she faced a common fear: losing her professional identity. To combat this, she embarked on an ambitious and transformative project—baking a pie every day for a year and giving each one away to someone in her community. This daily ritual not only kept her connected to others but also reignited her creativity and sense of purpose. By reaching out to friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers like a homeless man sitting outside a mall, she found joy in the unexpected reactions of recipients, who often remarked on how timely or meaningful the pies were. Her story highlights the power of creating new traditions to maintain personal growth and fulfillment after retirement.
Hardin Woods' journey began with her diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, which spurred her to prove she could still think creatively. She meticulously planned each pie, sourcing fresh ingredients from her Salem, Oregon, home and delivering them to a rotating cast of recipients. This included her aunt, who had provided stability during her youth; former colleagues; and even strangers like the homeless man. These interactions often led to heartwarming moments, reinforcing her belief in the value of giving and connecting with others. Her project gained local recognition as she became known as "the pie lady," chronicling her experiences on a blog.
While her primary goal was personal growth, Hardin Woods discovered that baking pies offered parallels to her previous career in land-use planning. Both required organizing disparate elements into something cohesive and meaningful. This connection underscored her ability to adapt and find new purpose after retirement. Beyond
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Originally published on Hacker News on 2/23/2026