Several weeks ago my son received an acceptance letter from the college of his choice. We were so excited, and then reality set in. Yes he had gotten "in", but we would have to pay for him to go.
And so began the saga of getting our financials in order, applications for federal and state aid as well as personal loans.
Sigh.. Big ginormous gut-stiring-sigh....
One of the things I decided to do was see a CPA to help with paperwork and get previous tax years in order. I learned that you have to have 2-3 precious tax years to fill out for financial aid, loans, a home refinance, etc..
The CPA's name was Richard. He took all my papers and did everything I asked him to do in less than 30 minutes. In the time it took for a pizza delivery, Richard had sorted out my financial life and tax documents. He was quiet and friendly. He had come from Nigeria and he had a slight English accent. He asked me about my health. My older brother had recommended Richard, so I deduced that Todd must have told him about my liver disease.
"I'm ok." I said. "I feel good. Sometime in my future I will need a liver transplant."
Richard just shook his head and he kept on typing. Odd reaction. He didn't ask me any questions. He didn't pry. Here are your papers, he said. This is what you need to do next., he explained.
I paid him for his services and he walked with me out of his office. We walked across the parking lot and halfway to my car and then he stopped. He looked at me with such seriousness and sincerity. He took a deep breath and took my hand:
"I wish you all of God's blessings. I was end stage kidney disease for 11 years. I just had a kidney transplant 8 months ago."
He had lived with end stage disease for 11 years!
"You can do this, he said. Live well everyday. EVERYDAY. You can do this."
I had been feeling sorry for myself the past couple of days. I had let financial stress and work and anxiety rob me of so many days that I will never get back . Richard's last words to me lifted the cloud that had been hovering over my head.
In the parking lot of CPA Services, he gave me hope.
And so began the saga of getting our financials in order, applications for federal and state aid as well as personal loans.
Sigh.. Big ginormous gut-stiring-sigh....
One of the things I decided to do was see a CPA to help with paperwork and get previous tax years in order. I learned that you have to have 2-3 precious tax years to fill out for financial aid, loans, a home refinance, etc..
The CPA's name was Richard. He took all my papers and did everything I asked him to do in less than 30 minutes. In the time it took for a pizza delivery, Richard had sorted out my financial life and tax documents. He was quiet and friendly. He had come from Nigeria and he had a slight English accent. He asked me about my health. My older brother had recommended Richard, so I deduced that Todd must have told him about my liver disease.
"I'm ok." I said. "I feel good. Sometime in my future I will need a liver transplant."
Richard just shook his head and he kept on typing. Odd reaction. He didn't ask me any questions. He didn't pry. Here are your papers, he said. This is what you need to do next., he explained.
I paid him for his services and he walked with me out of his office. We walked across the parking lot and halfway to my car and then he stopped. He looked at me with such seriousness and sincerity. He took a deep breath and took my hand:
"I wish you all of God's blessings. I was end stage kidney disease for 11 years. I just had a kidney transplant 8 months ago."
He had lived with end stage disease for 11 years!
"You can do this, he said. Live well everyday. EVERYDAY. You can do this."
I had been feeling sorry for myself the past couple of days. I had let financial stress and work and anxiety rob me of so many days that I will never get back . Richard's last words to me lifted the cloud that had been hovering over my head.
In the parking lot of CPA Services, he gave me hope.
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