It happens every year.
A well-dressed/coiffed upper-middle class matron pulled up, got out of her Cadillac and into my office. Radiating Chanel and the self-satisfied self-confidence that frequently accompanies wealth, she (patronizingly and appropriately apologetic) began, "My daughter needs a tution and fees form for college...I've looked everywhere...that confusing IRS website ran me to 14 different places...their office is 20 miles from here...that 800 number kept me on hold forever (No kidding?)...if you could just..."
While my moma taught us to always help those you could and it just goes against the grain to NOT do it, I SWEAR today's freeloader is the last freeloader.
My wife's anaylysis: "She was a nice, frugal 'do-it-yourselfer' who made you a nice, gullible 'do-it-myselfer'. You spent ten minutes of no-charge time, printed two IRS forms/instructions, and pointed out that Google's PDF forms are much quicker/easier (now she can tell her DIY friends). She'll never spend a cent with us and her good will's worthless (she doesn't hob-nob with our clientele). Why don't you stop doing that?"
I herewith solemnly swear on the bones, pencils, and carbon-copies of my ancestors -- next time it's gonna be: "Our returns are computer-generated and we don't have forms." And...if they're brassy enough to ask if I can and will print them...I'm saying yes and no.
A well-dressed/coiffed upper-middle class matron pulled up, got out of her Cadillac and into my office. Radiating Chanel and the self-satisfied self-confidence that frequently accompanies wealth, she (patronizingly and appropriately apologetic) began, "My daughter needs a tution and fees form for college...I've looked everywhere...that confusing IRS website ran me to 14 different places...their office is 20 miles from here...that 800 number kept me on hold forever (No kidding?)...if you could just..."
While my moma taught us to always help those you could and it just goes against the grain to NOT do it, I SWEAR today's freeloader is the last freeloader.
My wife's anaylysis: "She was a nice, frugal 'do-it-yourselfer' who made you a nice, gullible 'do-it-myselfer'. You spent ten minutes of no-charge time, printed two IRS forms/instructions, and pointed out that Google's PDF forms are much quicker/easier (now she can tell her DIY friends). She'll never spend a cent with us and her good will's worthless (she doesn't hob-nob with our clientele). Why don't you stop doing that?"
I herewith solemnly swear on the bones, pencils, and carbon-copies of my ancestors -- next time it's gonna be: "Our returns are computer-generated and we don't have forms." And...if they're brassy enough to ask if I can and will print them...I'm saying yes and no.
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