When I look at my cycling friends, I see many folks who are fulfilled with their families and careers, and participate in life from the healthy side of things. Few difficulties are present aside from occasional sore muscles. And then I see Pam Stevenson.

We met in June 2015 after Pam had just completed surgery and an aggressive course of chemotherapy. She was along as a guest on our Ride to Pictured Rocks tour. Shortly after that she joined our staff for several tours, in northern Michigan and at Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Pam’s story aside from the cancer is fairly normal: Detroit girl from the east side, with a nursing degree from the University of Michigan and a fulfilling career as a nurse; happily married, two children and two grandchildren. During all this she was active, running for the stress relief it offers, then morphing (as many of us do) into cycling. In her spare time she even earned a second degree from Loyola University, a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry. All this was interrupted with a cancer diagnosis, followed by treatment, followed by a renewed outlook on life.

Since cancer, Pam has retired from nursing, been on our tour staff twice, traveled a bunch on other bike tours, and started a new endeavor, Coffee with Pam.

I got her to sit still for a moment and answer some questions. Here’s our interview with Pam Stevenson:

JP: You grew up in Detroit, riding your bike. Tell me about that.

Pam: I used to ride my bike to Lipke Park. The park is where we would run, play baseball, and swim. It is on Detroit, on the east side, 8 Mile and Van Dyke area. We had a lot of fun, but our biking was limited to the sidewalks back then.

JP: Were there sports in school?

Pam: Limited, in grade school there was basketball and baseball.  I played baseball, and I was a cheerleader, I was always an encourager and still am.

JP: You retired from nursing, what specialty?

Pam: I was a nurse for 40 years. The first half was spent working in surgical intensive care units. The last half was in Mastery level case management, and ending in the emergency room at the University of Michigan Hospital. I was fortunate to be employed at the UM Medical Center for 25 years.

JP: OK, you’re a cancer survivor…

Pam: Yes…I’m a 4-year survivor from breast cancer. I think that (the cancer experience) was one of the best gifts I’ve ever had. Choosing my attitude, and learning how to work through a very scary thing like cancer. I’m happy that it happened to me.

JP: Remarkable. Did cancer bring your retirement closer?

Pam: Yes, I had intended to work until age 62.  I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 56. I chose to work with a life coach to retire because I liked my career, I wasn’t ready to end it. I didn’t want to give up what I thought was a very productive, humanist, viable and rewarding career.

JP: So before you had cancer, you were a runner, a cyclist, and a swimmer…

Pam: Yes, actually I learned how to swim after the cancer, with the Milford Athletic Club for almost 4 years now. I’ve competed at the state meet level, and at local levels.

JP: What’s the best part about cycling?

Pam: Oh, the best part is that while on my bike, I feel like I’m flying, and that I’m as free as a kid (laughs). That’s why I love being on a bike.

JP: Tell me about your recent bike trips.

Pam: This year we did the middle Tennessee cycle tour, it was a really fantastic trip, averaged 65 miles per day for 5 days. We stayed at wonderful places, ate great food, and biked all day with really cool people.

JP: Did you cycle out west?

Pam: Last year we cycled out west on the Circle Greater Yellowstone tour, which is a great tour a once in a lifetime event because we got to see the eclipse of the sun at its’ peak in Idaho.

JP: Was it a camping tour?

Pam: Yes it was, so we hired a Sherpa. We stayed in a tent, and everything was done for us except the riding on the bike, we had to do that!

JP: Tell me about the coffee venture that you’re doing.

Pam: Well, I’ve had a lot of encouragement from friends along the way who know me, and when I decided to retire from nursing I was content with just enjoying my retirement because I had  spent 40 years at a pretty tough job. But friends have urged me to continue to be productive in whatever ways I could brainstorm. My effort with “Coffee with Pam” is that I’ve always been an advocate, and it’s my way so I can continue to advocate for people in the second half of their life.

Basically Coffee with Pam  is a time when I meet with someone, and  provide empathetic listening and mirroring. (It’s) advocacy for them to help understand where they are, heighten their self awareness, and just (let them) feel like someone is present, cares and is really listening. I think one’s ability to be self-aware is essential if we’re going to make the world a better place. A person has to understand who they are first. An un-examined life can be much less fulfilling.

JP: Your qualifications…

Pam: Well, as a nurse, I’ve received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in Nursing. As I was nearing the end of my career I was searching for more meaning…and I decided to get a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Loyola University. So that’s another reason why this “Coffee with Pam” venture makes sense for me. I’ve always done counseling, I’ve always done advocacy, I’m a listener, I’m an empath.

JP: Loyola is in Chicago…

Pam: I took a 4-year course locally in Lansing, with the same group of people. We met once a week for 4 years and we received our Master’s Degrees together. Yes, the men are now deacons in the Catholic Church, and I am not a deacon in the Catholic Church because I’m a woman (laughing). I also no longer practice Catholicism but treasure its’ deep relevence in my life. I’m a very spiritual person, but I’m not religious. When I relate with someone, I relate with them on a deep level. That’s what I did in my (nursing) career. That’s why this endeavor is something natural for me to do, to meet someone where they’re at, and to have real conversations. You know, I’m not good at cocktail parties, I’m not good at chit-chat (laughs). I’m used to talking about what is meaningful and what is real- like “tell me how your life is going”, and I expect the person to give me an honest answer

JP: That’s hard to do…

Pam: A lot of people aren’t comfortable with that, but the ones who are looking for that kind of conversation talk to me, and it happens all the time.

JP: And I suppose that if someone needs conversation, and they don’t know you, it might make it easier…might it?

Pam: Oh, well for me it doesn’t matter if I know them or not, but for them, it might make it easier. All I know, is that my whole life I’ve been approached by people who tell me their life stories. I think it’s because I look like someone who cares, and I have a talent at listening. I also can see the big picture, I’m very intuitive. I don’t always give all my intuitiveness back  to them, but they can sense that I’m connected.

JP: Can you differentiate between what you’re doing in your role here, and that of a licensed therapist?

Pam: Well, I’m a licensed nurse, and nurses are natural counselors. I have a lot of education in psychology and the sciences, and 40 years of career experience. In my career I’ve met with thousands of people; I’ve met them where they’re at. In the midst of their suffering; in the midst of their trials. My experience really has honed my skills.

I wouldn’t call myself a therapist, but I am a pastoral minister. “Pastoral” means actively engaged in promoting a person’s daily life, not in a theological way or philosophical way, but in a practical way.

JP: So, when other people are looking at retirement, what are your thoughts? How do people mentally prepare?

Pam: Like anything else that’s difficult in life you have to really feel the discomfort of it, and move through that discomfort. Feel it, talk about it, that’s a lot of what I do. I help people recognize what they’ve done in their life already, and what they liked about it, and understanding that these years, post-retirement can be very productive. For some of us, it’s the best time of our life…for me it is! I feel that you transition from your former work, and you move into a new process, new plan, new options, a new identity, the second half of life.

JP: What’s your next bike trip?

Pam: My next trip is either to British Columbia, or (to ride up) Mount Lemon near Tucson. I also would like to do Iowa, the Ragbrai ride.

JP: Thanks Pam. If you’ve got questions or comments for Pam you can reach her at Pamelachasestevenson@gmail.com.

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