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You sure take a lot on yourself to assume that I, nor any one I love have not made it through a major tragedy. But your cross is much to much for you to bare much less anyone else's.

None of this was directed at you. Life is full of fortunate and unfortunate events. They affect us all. Some events we have some cause and effect in; some we don't. But that has nothing to do with accepting things the way they are, especially when we have no control over them. Again, not being prepared for a "lay off" at age 59 is something this gentleman had not prepared for. And my point is that he should have, prepared for that possibility and if one keeps abreast of the business climate, more a probability. You miss my whole point in your self-centered pity.

There are things we can change and prepare for and there are things we can not.

Not planning for a lay off, especially late in life, is not something a reasonable person couldn't see coming, especially in this business climate for the last 30 years. And that is nothing to do with unexpected medical problems, explicitly.

I really feel bad for you, but there isn't a darned thing I can do. You lost the whole point of the thread.

You attack me because I have accepted responsibility for "ourselves" (wife of 38 years) and worked towards being as financial sufficient as we could and then you claim to know that we have never been through a "major tragedy". You don't have a clue mam or sir, what ever the case may be. And no I am not going to share the challenges my wife and I have faced on a public board with you.

I don't have the credentials to help you in your grief, and far be it for me to suggest that you need some help, however ...

God Bless and yes you may have the last word.

You attack me because I have accepted responsibility for "ourselves" (wife of 38 years) and worked towards being as financial sufficient as we could and then you claim to know that we have never been through a "major tragedy". You don't have a clue mam or sir, what ever the case may be. And no I am not going to share the challenges my wife and I have faced on a public board with you.

I know where you are coming from and I get that all the time. Like you, I am not the type to air my dirty laundry in public and in fact, I prefer to talk about the good things that go on in my life. Therefore, because of my positive attitude, everybody around me assumes that, unlike them, I have a "perfect life" and thus I cannot possibly know what they are going through because I "never had to deal with tragedy or unfortunate events" in my life.

It's an assumption that people are quick to make about those who don't sit around bitching and complaining all the time about how life has done them wrong.

You seem dead convinced that I am talking about myself. But then, that would make perfect sense since you don't seem to have any compassion for others, so it would be beyond your understanding to accept that someone could feel pity for others. You see, I have friends who have lost children to cancer (and their homes and savings) and I have friends who are laboring under very heavy medical expenses but will never declare bankruptcy (honor will not permit it) but people like you seem to think they are lazy and self indulgent, after all, that could be the only possible reason they didn't set aside enough for their retirement.

Ah yes, those lazy and irresponsible people who wasted money on such frivolous things as medical care for children.

As to them being a "drain" on you, somehow I doubt it. They have paid into social security and have every reason to expect to collect what they have paid in, IF they live long enough.

Thanks for giving me the last word, it really does make me feel a lot better. Perhaps I'll go get the help you suggest, because it seems something here has turned my stomach.