MY RETIREMENT FROM INTEL

Photo taken January 13, 2023, when I turned in my laptop. My last day as an Intel employee would be two days later.

I remember Jenny was the first person I called after receiving the job offer from Intel in the spring of 1999, when I was a grad student at UCLA. We weighed the offer against two others--the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego and KLA Tencor--and talked about moving north to the Bay Area from Southern California together. The discussion included marriage, of course, so not long after I accepted the offer from Intel I flew out to Poughkeepsie, NY, to ask Jenny's parents for their permission and blessing.

Jenny and Dylan at an Intel event held at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in November 2012

My Intel world and Jenny world didn't so much as collide as intermesh. My colleagues threw me a wedding a shower in 2000. And, the majority of those I invited to my wedding were from Intel. Four years later, they threw a surprise baby shower for the twins. In all, I had 10 managers at Intel and Jenny met half of them--no small feat given that seven were based in Oregon and Arizona.

Jenny and Tyler at an Intel event at Coyote Ranch in San Jose in June 2012

Most significantly, though, was that Jenny had a skillset that overlapped mine as a supply chain professional. Her familiarity with procurement, engineering and, of course, contracts, had me consulting with her on a daily basis. Jenny was the perfect sounding board. I often showed her my work emails before sending them out. And, I used her as an audience for my presentations.

Jenny helps the boys at a holiday brunch at an Intel cafeteria in December 2013

Jenny provided me encouragement during each of the seven layoff cycles I endured and found the sense of humor to laugh with me as my stock options tanked from the heady days of the dot-com era. And, not once did she ask about my raises or performance reviews. If I got promoted, she would smile, but didn't ask what it meant financially. For me, she cared that I got intellectual fulfillment and time to spend with family.

Jenny and Tyler at the Oakland Zoo, which Intel bought out for the night in February 2014

Just as Jenny influenced me to join, she also played a role in my leaving. I was able to limp along for six months as an employee after losing Jenny. However, sadness, longing and "grief brain" kept me from being productive. I did the work that was asked of me, but it took me a long time to do it. I needed a break. Just as with many other tech companies in today's environment, Intel is undergoing cost-cutting after a rapid expansion. I was given the option of retiring from Intel with a separation package and I jumped at it. (Intel has a Rule of 75--age plus years of service--that allowed me to formally "retire" from Intel.)

I'm quite sure I will re-enter the workforce at some point. But, before I do, three things I will do are: (1) tutor, (2) spend more time with Dylan and Tyler and (3) visit the three states I'm missing from the 50-state challenge (KY, TN and WV).