bio

I was raised in Waikiki Beach, Hawaii, two blocks from the amazing Pacific Ocean. My first job, at thirteen, was selling surfing lessons and outrigger canoe rides to all the happy tourists. It was an idyllic job throughout my teen years.

At twenty, I set my sights on California. I could not decide if my new home would be in San Francisco or Los Angeles. So, I flipped a coin – heads SF – tails – LA. Los Angeles, it was, and I never looked back.

My twenties were spent booking sessions for the who’s who of rock and roll at a famous West Los Angeles recording studio. The 70s was a free-spirited time, and I took full advantage of the freedom. Along the way, I traveled throughout Europe (by myself). A couple of years later, I spent a year traveling, with a girlfriend, through Mexico, Central, and So. America. On the way home, we traveled the U.S. – Miami, New Orleans, New York City, and Boston. 

When I returned to Los Angeles, I found that my ambition was waiting for me, and it propelled me into a future that I would never have dreamt of as a beach girl in Waikiki.

My launching pad was a beautiful, avant-garde, Five-star hotel near UCLA. As the Dir. of Corp. Events, I was led to a new vista of opportunities and companies to explore for my professional future.

And what a future lay in front of me.

Upon leaving the hotel, I spent the next fourteen years in magazine publishing with the country’s number one teen/fashion magazine and later to a groundbreaking woman’s magazine. I adored those years in advertising and publishing, but something was missing. My free spirit had been hibernating below the surface and was now reemerging with a nagging frequency – asking me to break away from the corporate world and find my creativity. And with the mantra, I am open to whatever comes my way; I began my quest. Over the next 25 years, I became immersed in design and traveled the world developing products for the decorative home accessories market.

When I think about my life, three things have remained consistent. I am never too old to start a new adventure or a creative endeavor. My willingness to put myself on the line and break out of the familiar. And my love of writing.

I first began Platinum Boomer in 2013. And, it became apparent after a year that the demands of publishing a blog and managing a demanding career left me little time for anything else. So here I am after an extended break reemerging in a new country in a new decade of age.

I am thrilled and blessed to finally have the time in my life to explore and write about my philosophy on aging, my place in this new world, and my continued desire to explore all that surrounds me.

I hope you’ll join me here at Platinum Boomer Journal…

  • Reply
    Barbara and Strom
    August 30, 2023 at 7:58 am

    Wonderful idea to link our worlds as experienced and pushy boomer women!!!!!! We will prevail! I have definitely “pushed through” a lot of adventures and that’s what I love about you Kate. I miss you, but remember the best of Kate. I’ll never forget the day of the greyhounds to meeting again, years later, at Saro. Love you Kate!!

    • Reply
      kate granado
      September 22, 2023 at 10:38 am

      Oh, Barbara, I miss you. Steve keeps me updated on you and it all sounds great and you look wonderful…xxoxox

  • Reply
    Kerry Keathley
    July 8, 2022 at 7:19 pm

    I love this- what a life you had and I’m
    Sure there’s plenty more to tell! Can’t wait to
    Follow along and be inspired by the one and only Aunt Kate ♥️

  • Reply
    Maude
    May 20, 2021 at 4:09 pm

    I like the write-up of your “About.” Well written. Lots of us women are in the same stages as yours. I am too and it is an interesting seasons of another chapter that we know what to do and where to go with it and how to do it. I enjoyed reading your post. Looking forward to reading more of your write-ups. Well done.

  • Reply
    martie
    August 4, 2020 at 3:24 am

    All I can say is WOW… my one and only adventure was moving with two babies and (ex) Israeli husband to Israel… and even after my divorce so many years ago… STAYED… and never looked back. I am always enchanted with life stories such as yours…..I was pretty much routine in a sense… and somehow always felt that I ‘missed something’ along the way… with COVID here… I now am thinking of ‘how to reinvent myself’… not quite sure… but perhaps it will come to me in a dream:) Enjoyed your bio very much… thank you.

  • Reply
    Jaquelynne Mauvais
    July 4, 2020 at 12:31 pm

    Well, I thought I knew you, from age 16 and on…but we all have little surprises!! Had not heard the coin toss story!! Love love love your photo under the hat!! You look 35!! Just amazing!! My fun loving little girlfriend…FOREVER!!! Ms. Jaquelynne

  • Reply
    Linda
    June 6, 2020 at 11:02 am

    Excelente!!! Good to know your back story better. Exquisito!!

  • Reply
    Ellen Friday
    May 31, 2020 at 7:29 pm

    Ahhhhh!!! Finally!!! Xoxo love you auntie!

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