Still waiting to hear about the job. Called the recruiter in HR and got voice mail - hung up without leaving a message. Yes, I know that was wimpy. I'll try again tomorrow. The waiting is killing me, but I'm almost afraid to find out because my hopes may be dashed. Every job I don't get is one less option available to me - or at least that's how it feels.
My Sunday dinner to introduce Jack to my daughter, son-in-law and grandkids went well. The food was good - so everyone said - and conversation was fine. Though Jack was nervous (he said) he interacted nicely with everyone; I was proud to show him off. Everyone seemed to like him well enough and he seemed to like them.
Well, I am officially one month in arrears on my mortgage. The bank calls every day...five or six times if I don't answer. Talked to them today and exlained my situation. I got a few "I'm sorry" platitudes and several useless suggestions as to how I could get them their money.
The woman at the other end of the phone asked if I had any relatives who could help. I expressed dismay that she would expect my children to pay my bills when they were busy trying to support their own children.
Then she asked if I had considered renting out a room. I replied that I'd considered that, but that it would only net me about a fifth of the mortgage payment so why bother.
She replied that I might find work. I said I was still looking, but at sixty plus and after 18 months without a job, I asked what she thought my odds were.
She asked if I have any income at all. I told her I had a few more months of unemployment. She asked how much that is. I told her and said it is equal to my mortgage payment, which leaves nothing for electricity or food. I asked if she was suggesting I give up either.
She suggested that I could get hardship permission to tap my 401K. I said, "You want me to use what little retirement money I have to try and save a house I can't afford so that I can be destitute and eat cat food when I'm seventy?"
She suggested I contact a realtor. I told her I had and that I would have twenty thousand dollars in out of pocket costs. She suggested a short sale. I told her I had considered it but had been told that the bank wouldn't be likely to approve it if I have retirement money in the bank. She said she didn't know about that.
I think she must have reached the end of her list of suggestions because she finished up by telling me that since I am still in arrears I can expect to get "follow up" calls daily and wished me a nice day...
