Ned Luce

As if life needed to be more taxing! 

Yep, it is that time of year. You should have your W2s or 1099s or just records of your income and deductible expenses together. If not, it is time to start organizing them. 

Again this year BJ is an IRS certified AARP Tax Aide in the volunteer program providing free tax preparation and e-filing services. This help is directed at low and middle income taxpayers of all ages and began to be available this week through April 15. 

BJ has joined a well-trained group of volunteers working at the Port Townsend Community Center, (360-302-1867), the Tri-Area Community Center, (360-390-4014), and the Quilcene Community Center, 360-302-6064. 

To get the assistance one needs to call the number above but do not expect to talk to a real person to schedule your appointment! Leave a message and your call will be returned. I know this because BJ has been returning those calls to schedule when you can get help in Chimacum and explain the process. 

Last year’s users of this service may remember the fact that it was cut short because of some national health emergency. As a result some of this year’s clients are needing to also get help with last year’s returns. 

Since BJ is on the phone speaker scheduling when and how folks can get materials and help, I have been exposed to her conversations with clients. 

Now folks, this is really pretty boring stuff in a 15-minute call. But I was really struck by one. BJ was talking with this obviously fairly young mother with a 1 year old and a 2-year-old child she was trying to effectively manage. This woman was incredibly pleasant and seemed fully aware of everything BJ was trying to explain and understand what she had to do. It was nice for me to hear someone delightfully young with young children who lives here! Not that I would want to have her challenges. 

Folks like her should be getting the vaccine first instead of old curmudgeons such as I or people who donate to medical centers such as what happened in Bellevue and a few other places. Shoot, if we want to give preference to people who have donated let’s look at veterans. 

Yesterday was the annual ridiculous celebration of Ground Hog Day featuring Punxsutawney Phil. Given everything else that has been cancelled, like a Super Bowl Party at my house, a gathering of folks believing a weather forecast from a ground hog may not be such a bad idea. Heck, they even made a movie by that name. 

And, oh yes, there is a football game this coming Sunday. It features Tom “Terrific” Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Patrick “Babyface” Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. It should be tremendous fun in spite of the absence of the Budweiser Clydesdales. 

There were two culinary exceptions from the normal eating food prepared at home for us last week. 

I got a toasted cheese takeout sandwich from Pan d’ More in Port Townsend and we got a “you bake” Ferino’s pizza! Yep, we broke a little off the meals at home monotony. 

Our daughter and her family spent last weekend in Plane, Washington cross country skiing in a successful attempt to “get out of Seattle” and escape the stifle of the pandemic lockdown. 

I understand some in Jefferson County are irked that we were not included in Governor Inslee’s recent loosening of the pandemic restrictions. Hey, we need to be thankful none of our county officials have hit the national news with reports of supporting “Q-Anon” as it seems to have happened in Sequim. 

Speaking of Sequim, please note that John Wayne is famously part of their history and he is reported to having said, “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” 

Love a curmudgeon, wear a mask and Go Chiefs! 

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive who says there’s no place like home, and these days, that’s Port Ludlow. Email him at ned@ptleader.com.)