Thanks everyone! He went out to dinner last night with someone who is high up in the ranks and been with the company for years and got more information. There are going to be 4-5 more people laid off in a company that has only 24 people total, plus some overseas. So I don't think it was entirely personal or ageism though that may have been a factor. You never know. The company is suffering right now because of the economy, like a lot of others. My husband's position was fairly new and created for what they projected the next year would be, but now they are cutting back on everything so the position became redundant. Or at least that is the official word, which looks good when looking for a new job. He sent out a ton of emails last night to others in the semiconductor business to put out feelers. Yes, he is starting to feel it and I think it is going to hit him emotionally though he won't admit it. He has been working as an engineer in Silicon Valley since 1977 and never been laid off before. He has his Masters in EE so that is all he knows, or feels like he does right now. I think he should think outside the box, but maybe that will come later if nothing comes up in his search. What worries me more then the money is insurance. Our son has a lot of medical problems and is on medication and sees a lot of specialists. I know he can extend his insurance through COBRA, hopefully it won't be too expensive. And he did get one month's severance pay plus can apply for unemployment for the next year. We have always lived pretty simply and cheaply because we have only had one income. We will exam things more closely again and see if we can cut back some more. Maybe I will look into going back to work myself, though that will be quite a change after 25 years of being home. I would do it just for the insurance coverage. I know we will get past this in time, we have survived many bumps in the road for the last 31 years, so I am not too worried. That is one thing you learn later in life, this too will pass. Clare

What a wonderful story! And congratulations on your lovely new furniture. I can hardly wait to see them in your home. Your story reminds me of something similar that happened to me about 15 years ago. I drove past an antique store every day on the way to work, and kept admiring a maple corner hutch in their window. I told my husband about it and said that I wanted to run in and check the price when I had a chance. But a few days later it was sold. I told my husband I was kicking myself for not making it in sooner, because I had really loved it. The next day when I got home from work, it was all set up in the dining room, with my dishes all arranged on the shelves. Turns out he was the one who had bought it! It was such a lovely thoughtful thing to do - it made me cry! What a guy!

Best halibut I ever tasted was at The Sea Chest in Cambria, CA. DH was the wine and liquor salesman at the time and we were up there letting the owner have a wine tasting. Just before the tasting was over, a local fisherman had come in with a 40 pound halibut he had just caught and wanted to sell it. Owner bought it, the cook cleaned the fish and grilled some of us. I bet the fish hadn't been out of the water more than 30 minutes. Yum! (And, no, I hadn't been tasting any wine.....was the designated driver, as always.)

lol!! bpathome you just made my sad day into my happy day lol We had a guitar for several years. it looked very cool. except that the kids(first DD, then DS) slacked and didn't want to spend hours training even though it was them passionately asking for that damn guitar.. it was a smaller sized home. actually was a 2 bedroom rental. we kept it pretty sparce. Say I always felt-very vaguely-something was missing. years later I realized we never had a coffee table..)) long story short. that guitar, at the end of the day, was standing pretty. that's about it. i think their Dad sold it eventually on Craigslist or something (my brother for example was really into playing guitar..he self taught himself when a teen, was spending hours playing and later became part of an informal rock band in his college. he left when we left the country; but interestingly the rock band went to be famous.. they're still in touch with the soloist-his then-best friend. I'm like a black sheep in my family..only babies and people who love me unconditionally can stand hear me singing lol. my kids-they do take after my brother..but they very clearly lack his passion. they do love listening to music though. DS does his homework with music on. it's beyond my understanding, but I know it works like that for many people.)