This weekend was the company x-mas party. Service awards were passed out as usual for length of time working for the company. In every year passed, gifts were also givin to employees with lengthy time of service. This year, I receved my 20 year ring. Last year, and every year before, for twenty years people got the solid gold ring and a gift valuing aprox $1000.00. This year, my year, the rings, for the first time are made of silver, and...no gift. The ring is exquisitely beautiful in silver, and I can't help but be proud of it. I've commented to the bosses on that, but, about the gift.....They asked my wife what it was that I really wanted , for about a thousand dollars and she gave them the make and model of an HDTV that I wanted. They bought the TV, I seen it stored in the office. It was approved by my boss and his boss: however, even though everything was set, the old man of the company made a last minute change not to give out gifts this year and the price of gold blah blah blah. They are going to take back the TV or put it in the confrence room. With twenty years experience, I'm secretly planning to step out on my own as an independant anyway, I've hung in there just to achieve my goal and get the ring. What should I have said to the old man besides comment on how beautyful my ring is? There still is time so say something clever in my exit interview.