The Feds Have a Point!

I went to get my taxes done yesterday. My tax guy was pleasantly surprised to see me, considering I haven't had my taxes done until June for the last two years. I wasn't quite sure where I would stand this year, so I squeaked in under the radar!

And found out that even the feds don't think I should "just get over" losing Brian. Even they think there is something to be said about needing some time to adjust. Obviously, I could file my 2008 taxes as married filing jointly. After finishing the 2008 taxes, we were doing some brainstorming about my current financial situation, and how my taxes might differ in the coming years.

Out of the blue he said...well, you will still be a qualifying widow next year.

What? My mind was thinking, yeah, I'll still be a widow, even in 50 years. So tell me more...

The government considers that you will likely need more than the year in which your spouse died to get back on your feet financially, so they allow you to file as a qualifying widow for two years instead of one.

So what makes me qualifying? Quickly, things ran through my head...

He has to really be dead.

I have to really be sad.

Again, still dead.

I have to wake up alone every day.

Yep, still dead.

I have to have had no contact via the supernatural.

Still dead...

My mind was racing, and even though I knew he would give me an explanation, I still had the craziest thoughts as to what makes me a "qualifying" widow or not!

His response...a widow with children. His words...the government gives you a tax break on a second year when you are trying to support children on top of being a widow.

FINALLY! I think I have finally found something that made this whole mess worthwhile.

NOT!

But as I drove home, I thought to myself...good, at least our law-abiding, tax-rendering United States government recognizes the needs of those grieving the loss of their loved one. And while this is the least of my concerns, I do have to deal with the loss of Brian's income, which was more than mine. And I have dealt with that. It just was an odd feeling, to feel like I had a right to take the time to get adjusted. I didn't have to ask for time, it is just a given.

I guess that means I need to be "over it" by 2010.