Pardon me if my answer was slightly on the flippant side. What I did want to suggest is that there is continuity between the K&R C and today's C++ classes, objects, templates, containers, iterators, algorithms, and the like. So, if you feel like C/C++ is written in your future, just take it from where you stopped a few years ago and go for it. Same as you do when you go to tackle some tough job in Perl.

Where I work, when we interview programmers for jobs, this is what we look for
- the domain knowledge and experience : software for sci/eng measuring instruments
- the programming experience : C++, real time, component software
- the person : do you have courage and curiosity, can you identify and solve problems, can you find nuggets of knowledge wherever they hide - your head, books, vendor doc (yes!), web; do you know the hardships and joys of teamwork?
Knowledge and experience are minimal conditions, personal qualities are decisive.

If you meet a prospective employer who is not probing for these qualities, you should probably look around for another one.

Rudif