I started my tax prep last Sunday by sorting everything I had collected all year. It completely covered the dining room table. Earlier in the week, I’d picked up my tax prep package from the preparer’s office. The original that came in January had disappeared. I searched all the usual and then the unusual places, before calling to request a replacement.

It seemed like taxes consumed my life all of this past week. But there were other things to take care of also.

Monday morning, I applied the fourth and final coat of marine varnish to the door. By now, almost a week later, the varnish has set up and the door is ready to be rehung. And the replacement door will be donated back to ReStore for them to sell again.

The door did not turn out as well as it did when I redid it in 2009, but I had someone coaching me every step of the way back then. I thought I could do it without help this time. And I did except for removal to the garage. It is not as good a job as I had hoped for, but it looks a whole lot better than it did. It has a certain uniqueness to it now, which I’m adjusting to and beginning to like.  I’ll be very glad when it is rehung.

The rest of Monday, it was back to tax prep. I did my inventory of books for my business, Crossings, where I write and sell my books and from time to time edit other folks’ books. I need the inventory to determine cost basis. And since I’ve done it so late, I had to add all books sold since January 1 to the totals.

Tuesday, I did the rental portion of my taxes. Wednesday, I did my personal taxes. And Thursday, I did my annual report for my business, which took most of the day. Friday, I got all the rest of the business stuff figured out and entered.

And every day, four times a day, I’ve been putting in two sets of eye drops to the eye operated on April 22. In my opinion, it is not healing as fast as it should. It is still somewhat bloodshot and still feels irritated, with some inflammation on the inside of the lower lid. So, tomorrow, I will contact the doctor who did the surgery. He said it would take two weeks or so to heal, but it still looks like it has a long way to go, and in a few days, the two weeks will be up. So, it’s a concern.

A week ago, I was out delivering books to bookstores in Florence and Yachats. It was so good to be out delivering books again. I just love Books ‘N’ Bears in Florence’s Old Town and Books and More in Yachats. Both of these bookstores have sold my books that have to do with the coast and Florence since they first came out.

When I drove up to Yachats, the waves were stormy looking––just spectacular. The weather included rain, hail, snow, and sun––all in that 26-mile stretch.  My favorite memory is looking through the snowflakes hitting my windshield at the Cape Perpetua headland in the distance––bathed in sunlight! I always tell people, “If you don’t like the weather here on the coast, wait five minutes or drive five miles, and it will be different.” It has certainly been true this spring!

Yesterday afternoon, it was back to tax prep. I remembered a few things I had left out. So, got those taken care of. Then I went through everything again and got it all put together with post-it explanations where I felt were needed. Finished about 10 p.m. last night. Then put it all in a very fat, large envelope that I dropped off at the accountant’s office today.  April 2 is not too bad when the deadline isn’t until April 15.

I didn’t spend the whole week on taxes, it just seemed that way. I fit it in whenever I could. When I was in town during the week, I noticed lots of people. That was not unusual, it’s spring break, after all. Yesterday, while I was clerking at Backstreet Gallery from 11 to 2 p.m., there were folks from Eugene, Portland, Salem, Albany, Coos Bay, Brookings, Grants Pass, and three different sets of folks from Roseburg. Also, at the Gallery, I became reacquainted with a retired nurse I hadn’t seen since 2000 when my late husband was in the hospital. Actually, he was one of her patients in 1987 and 1988 also when he was in and out of the hospital then too. That was the old hospital. During all of those times, I saw her often. I was surprised to learn, that she has been buying my books over the years. Seeing her in the Gallery yesterday was totally unexpected and such a pleasant experience.

Today, I was at the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum, where I’m on duty as a docent with fellow docent, Ellen, most every Sunday. Again, it was easy to tell that it was Spring Break. Most of the families had children with them, which is always good to see. They were from Portland, Eugene, and Alaska. And one family said they were related to Joe Blakely, one of the writers whose books the Museum carries. I asked them to tell him “Hi.” I’ve known him for many years. Tis a small world, indeed!  

Fitting in the tax prep made this a very busy week, but it’s done. I won’t have to go through this again for another year. Yay! For that, I’m very happy!