Call of the Wild

QuickBooks looms open on the computer desktop in front of me - behind it a simple, blank Word document. I flip between the two programs with the buttons at the bottom of my screen. Undecided, I know what must be done - what I am compelled to do.

There are only seventeen more days until I meet with the accountant. I used to punctuate that countdown with a proclamation: there is still time to write! This is no longer the case. My back is against the wall. The government has its deadlines, and they must be adhered to.

Again, I stare at the empty Word document. It beckons to be filled - peppered with my words, thoughts and emotions. It’s my call of the wild.

My entire life, I’ve done the responsible thing, the lawful thing, the moral thing. It's almost as if I've drawn an invisible box around myself - its mystical lines so potent I can never step over them. Lawlessness and chaos creep along its unseen perimeter. On occasion, I have invited the marauders inside. I'm mystified by society's rule breakers - those who fail to make their tax filing dates.

I prick up my ears like an old housedog - listening to an evocative, wild call. I think I may lunge for it - but that would be a ruse, a quick jaunt around the master’s yard - a mere bit of flash.

Good one, Gayla. I was in exactly this place about a week ago, but I was looking at Turbo Tax instead of Quickbooks.

As Nike says, "Just do it!" I'm glad you at least went for the quick trip to the yard and back. Who'll know? I won't tell.

Oh, this was cute! I feel for you, Gayla.

That last sentence was perfectly matched to the rest of your story -- of your dilemma. I, too, am glad you broke from the leash long enough to stretch your legs and feel the wind in your hair.

Go wild -- well, maybe after the 15th. :D

Thanks Marva and Opal. In a perfect world, there would be a flat tax. Alas, until then, I will shuffle through my 3 grocery-store bags of receipts and itemize them. My penance for writing instead of organizing.

I will be here reading and commenting, though. Perhaps, I'll post a few of my earlier EotW pieces that were largely ignored as a newbie. LOL

Gayla

You have struck a nerve. April 15 is universally dreaded.

For me it is no problem. In years past my returns were complicated and there were many opportunities to cheat. I will not reveal the result. The man might be watching.

However, there is a Higher Power. Gradually the complexities disappeared. Now I simply pull up my TaxAct, which contains all information from previous years, enter income from only three sources and taxes withheld and, voila, a single click of the mouse sends it on its way. Takes about ten minutes. My refund appears in my bank account within a few weeks.

And my sleep is undisturbed by guilt or thoughts of retribution.

There is an easier, softer way.

oldron: If only it were that simple. It's the itemizing that always mystifies me. I just pull everything that might qualify together and let the accountant decide what I can and can't deduct. Maybe someday, I'll be fortunate enough to experience "one click" taxes. lol

Can someone tell me if this sentence is punctuated correctly? Should "There be capitalized? Have quotation marks around the second half?

<I used to punctuate that countdown with a proclamation: There is still time to write!>

As a tool of government oppression myself, the tax thing is sorted out automatically for me. Of course, they're probably diddling me... but I'm bringing them down from the inside, so it evens out. ;)

Nice flash.

That's a good question.

CMS says:

If the element introduced by a colon consists of more than one sentence, or if it is a formal statement, a quoation, or a speech in dialogue, it should begin with a capital letter. Otherwise it may begin with a lowercase letter.

To me, that means capital T. They did not use quotes in the examples (don't want to type all that).

Bren: Thanks for the read. Glad to hear you are undercover fighting the good fight ;)

Marva: So it qualifies as a formal statement, I guess?? Thanks for the help with that; I really struggled with that sentence.

Hi Gayla,
Read your Call Of The Wild...Interesting and very good discription of a major American problem.Only one I found so far, but I'm still looking. I think you mentioned about four stories? As for Taxes, before I got on here, I was on a beatles website. They were discussing Taxes. It seems that the Beatles played over here just to make some money that they could keep for themselves.

Back at that time, they were able to Hold On To one Shilling, out of every 20. There was 20 shillings to a Pound in England, probably still that way. Out of 100% of their earnings, the Beatles were allowed to keep...only 5%....It was that way for every large earner.
No matter how much they made. And people think we got it tough! Just thought I'd mention that. Now I'm going to trt to find your other stories. I'm really lousy at finding my way around web sites....Maybe when I get Alzheimers I'll do better, or just forget why I care at all....
Pat

Great )))))))))))))
WBR,
Alex