I don’t know about everyone else, but the cost of gas is killing me and my budget.  It is especially hard for those who are in a lower income bracket not to mention those who are in retirement.  I came across the following tips on the internet on how everyone can save some money when purchasing gas and I thought I would pass it along.  If it is true, you may save a few bucks.

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold.  Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground.  The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening….your gallon is not exactly a gallon.  In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role.  A 1-degree rise in the temperature is a big deal for this business.  But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you’re filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode.  If you look, you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high.  In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping.  All hoses at the pump have a vapor return.  If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor.  Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you’re getting less for your money. 

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL.  The reason is that more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space.  Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine.  Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof.  This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. 

Finally, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up–most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

I guess I better fill up in the morning.

~Marc

 

 

 

This Father’s day my son, Paul, gave me a backpack for walking the Appalachian Trail.  I have always wanted to do something crazy and hiking the trail to celebrate my retirement would fit the bill.  Since it is less than a year away, I decided I better get ready. I can now check off a backpack on my list of needed equipment.  Other equipment that I will need for the trip includes a pack cover, tent, sleeping bag, mattresses, stove, water purification equipment, knife, flashlight, boots, rope, lantern, hiking sticks, and special clothing,   I have been reading a lot of books on how to prepare for the journey describing all the equipment that I will need and the mental and physical preparation necessary to make the journey of 2,170 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Katahdin Mountain in Maine.  Most thru-hikers start early in March from Georgia and must deal with the extremely cold weather and snow but later experience intense heat and lots of rain.  Some have reported walking for days in the rain and never really drying out.  Along the way most will have to deal with blisters, wounds, sprains, strains, burns, hypothermia, heat exhaustion, possible snake bites, animal bites, insect bites/stings, and lightning to name a few problems.  So a good first aid kit would be in order to add to the above list of equipment.  Also, there are concerns for personal safety.  Most recommend not hiking alone since there are no “deputy dogs” to maintain law and order in the woods. Using common sense along the way is a good ”rule of thumb”.   Another additional problem along the trail is that many of the shelters are infested with mice and you are never alone.  Many hikers decide to always sleep in their tent and bypass the shelters.  Also, food becomes a priority.  Even after buying all of the equipment, you have to buy enough food to last you about six months.  Since no one can carry that much, it is necessary to mail drop these supplies along the trail.  Anyone who decides to make this trip must invest a lot of bucks and preparation to make it happen.

Even though this may sound like the last journey that anyone would want to take, there are many testimonies from thru-hikers on how it changed their lives.  I was taking to my daughter-in-law who told me of a friend who made the trip on her honey moon.  She said it was an experience that she could not explain and even now she still misses the trail.  There are many that describe a type of “trail magic” that keeps them going regardless of the hardships and at the same time provides an experience they can not forget.

So with that all of that in mind, I thought some physical training would be in order since I would be carrying a 40 to 50 pound pack up and down mountains for long periods of time.  I started out by walking around the block and doing a few push-ups.  The walking was not hard but the next morning my back was killing me.  I took some ibuprofen which seemed to help.  Then I thought to myself, all I need to do is some stretching before walking.  Again, after a trip around the block my back continued to hurt.  I finally came to realize that there was a disconnect between what I wanted to do and what I can physically accomplish at my age.  I guess that is one of the most difficult things to come to terms with as I grow older.  It could result in discouragement or it could allow me to reevaluate my abilities and be satisfied with what I can accomplish.  So there has to be something other than a walk in the woods to celebrate my retirement.  The only way I will walk the Appalachian Trail with a forty pound pack will be in my dreams.  I can continue to walk around the block though, if I make frequent trips to the chiropractor.

 ~Marc

                                                                                                                               
The Pleasure Was Mine by Tommy Hays is a novel that revolves around two generations of Marshbanks.  There is Prate Marshbanks who experiences the difficulty of taking care of his wife, Irene, who has Alzheimer’s.  Phrate has lived a full life with a wonderful and intelligent lady who took care of him during their marriage, but in the end, he must be the care taker.  His demeanor is ruff (which at times did include some colorful language), but his wife is genteel and very intelligent as evidenced by her profession as a school teacher.  He never really understood how a lady, in the true sense of the word, would desire to spend the rest of her life with a man of few words.  All he knew how do was paint houses and take care of his family.

He met Irene while painting her father’s house.  It took many extra coats before he got up the nerve to ask her out and many more coats of paint before they got married.  They had one boy, Newell, who also became a painter.  But he was a very different kind of painter because he could make a canvas come alive.  Newell inherited his Dad’s love for paint and his Mother’s sensitivity for nature and landscape which proved to be a great combination for producing very fine paintings and a good income as an artist.  Unfortunately Newell and his son, Jackson, experienced their own traumatic event.  Sandy, a wonderful wife and mother, was killed in an automobile accident.

Their lives converged when Newell asked his father to keep Jackson for the summer.  How could Phrate take on that responsible for a grandson he hardly knew?  Especially, since he spent 4 to 5 hour a day at the nursing home taking care of his Irene.  What resulted was an unexpected healing between father and son, as well as, an acceptance of the difficulties in both of their lives.

I decided to read this book because the story takes place in my hometown, Greenville, SC.  I was very familiar with some of the places described in the book and it brought back a lot of memories when I was much younger.  The story itself was entertaining which made it a quick read.  This would be a good book to take on vacation to kill some time.

~Marc

I think a lot about my Mom on Mother’s Day.  She was a real inspiration to me because she could laugh when she should have been crying.  As I grew up, I gave her a lot to cry about or in her case to laugh about. Her favorite saying about life was “there is never a dull moment” (especially raising me).

She had a great personality and everyone loved her.  She worked at J.C. Penny for many years and later worked in the boy’s department at Sears for 28 years. Even there, she was always laughing and joking around. She participated in many store skits that entertained everyone from the store manager down to the janitor.  Everyone knew Frances Blumer.

Even though she passed away in 1976 at the young age of 56, her memory lives on in my life.  She loved her family, especially her grandchildren.  It is unfortunate that they don’t remember her laughing at her own jokes, but I do.

 ~Marc

I always wanted to meet Uncle Gus.  Actually Gus was not my uncle at all.  He was my great grandfather on my mother’s side of the family.  But all his friends referred to him as Uncle Gus.  In addition, I could not really meet him because he passed away in 1947, the year I was born.  He lived to the ripe old age of 90 years old.

His proper name was Edwin Augustus Aiken and he was born in Transylvania County.  He served there as a member of the legislature of North Carolina for three terms and was very known in the political circles.  He moved to Greenville, SC in 1907 and served as a Revenue Officer (Deputy US Marshal for the district of Western NC) traveling in North and South Carolina searching out those making their own brew and robbing the revenue coffers of the state.  As anyone might imagine, he was not popular with regular folks but he could handle a gun and knew how to take care of himself.  The picture above is “Uncle Gus” holding a rifle after busting a still.  I admit it looks like the picture may be staged because everyone looks like they are wearing their “Sunday Go to Meeting” clothes.  At any rate, from the stories passed down in our family, it was clear he could handle himself in any kind of clothes.

Later, he owned the Aiken stock yard in West Greenville.  He bought and sold cattle and maintained rental property on his land.  Today you can still find the boundary of his land by a street named after him; Aiken Street.  He owned that block of land adjacent to this street in West Greenville, SC.

His wife’s name was Olivia Lankford Aiken.  Unfortunately, she died in November, 1920.  He loved her very much.  He traveled a lot as a Revenue Agent, but wrote to her often. Many of those letters show his concern for his family by giving advice on how to spend money for family matters or dresses that he planned to purchase for the summer months, but in addition, he always expressed his love and admiration for his wife and children.  Other times, he seemed to apologize to his family for his life style.  In a letter dated Dec. 31, 1910, he wrote:

“This will be the last letter I write in 1910.  How many more I may write, I have no idea.  But this will close out my business for this year.  There will come a time, and we don’t know when we must and will write the last date and finish our active life on this earth.  The time will surly come, and is not far in the future.  It’s sad to think when we look around and see those who had equal chances has passed on and we are left.  And no one knows who comes next, but a little while and the call will come.  Papa would like to start a different life this New Year and try to see if he can live so when he is called those behind will be comforted by believing he was ready.  I have no fears for those gone, and do hope we all can live so that those left can live with the holy expectation of once more joining a united family where there is no trouble on parting.  Papa intends to get up tomorrow, and try and see if he can live better life.  The old devil has had Papa long enough.  I have not meant to serve him but have been weak, and I want to cut loose and I do hope and pray I may be able to keep this resolution.  So good by Darling.  When you say your prayers, ask for help for Papa.”

His Darling and my great grandmother died ten years later and God gave Uncle Gus another 37 years to make good on his resolution of 1910.

 ~Marc

 

 

Yesterday was an after tax season holiday.  It was my first day off since the middle of January and it felt really good.  I got up early because my wife is into catering and they had a few breakfast orders to get out.  Chef Paul and his lovely wife Charity had a meeting pertaining to the birth of my grandchild so everyone had to pitch in to get the food out the door.  While my wife was getting ready for work, I spent some productive time reading and drinking coffee. Then it was off to Denny’s for breakfast.  They have great omelet and better yet, today was “senior day”.  That means a discount for old folks like me.  When I paid they didn’t even ask for an ID to verify my age.   Then it was off to the bank to deposit a tax season bonus check.  I spent some time talking with our banker because I know if I can keep her happy, she can keep me happy when I need to borrow a few bucks for one of our businesses.  Then I went home to cut some grass.  I like the end of tax season but that means I have to start cutting grass once a week.  After lunch, I met one my homeless friends at the public library.  He is one of our regulars to our homeless ministry each Tuesday night.  Last Tuesday night, he showed some interest in starting a homeless blog.  So I was there to help him set up the basic format for some blogging.  I will be happy to help him more if he is disciplined enough to post each week.  I do think it would very interesting for us to know what he does all day long or what he does not do all day long.  Any ways, his blog is Homeless Eric.  Check it out.  Then it was back home to write the weekly post for the Food for Life Ministry blog.

Later, my wife called to ask me what I had been doing all day long.  I replied, “Nothing”.  It is certainly is better than working. 

 ~Marc

Schulz and Peanuts is a biography of Charles Schulz by David Michaelis.  It is the story about a cartoonist who created one of the best loved cartoon strips read weekly by millions of people which earned him millions of dollars each year.  It is an American success story.

 

It is a story about a young boy who knew that he wanted to be a cartoonist from the very beginning.  He would spend hours drawing and constantly comparing his drawings with the best in the trade.  His family really couldn’t understand his fascination with comics and his father who had his own business as a barber didn’t see how he could ever make a living. His mother was his protector against the world that seemed to always treat him like an outsider.  He didn’t have many friends because he was not considered attractive and, therefore, he was bashful and always appeared dumb.  But the truth was that he was very intelligent but just feared criticism. This caused him to be bashful and self-conscientious. His motto was “that it is good not to talk too much or others would think you are bragging and expose yourself to criticism”. He put caution and humility above self-confidence. He did not like to expose his feelings to the public except through his comic strip.  It was sort of therapy for him to say things or express certain thoughts that he would never say in public. Even during the break up of his first marriage to Joyce, no one knew of his discontent but could have easily read his comic strip to see the difficulty Charlie Brown was having with Lucy who like Joyce was continuously berating him publicly. Joyce was a take control person who was used to getting her way and made good use of the millions of dollars that he made every year.  Then Schulz met Jeannie and he walked away from the continuous conflict that he experienced at home and started a new life at the age of fifty.  Jeannie was only thirty-four.  She was a person who gave him the freedom to express himself without criticism and constantly gave him the approval that he always desired. But in the end ever she couldn’t provide the happiness that he desired. 

 

Shultz, whose nick name was Sparky, was constantly seeking approval to bolster his self-worth.  Although, most of the internal conflict played out in his comic strip, he did at times express his true feelings.  He stated during one interview that “shyness was really vanity or self-centeredness.  Shyness is an illusion. Shyness is the overtly self-conscious thinking that you are the only person in the world; that how you look and what you do is very important. Deflate one self before someone else did it”.  He was much more competitive then he seemed to be.  He acted as if he was a loser but he knew he was a winner.

 

Sparky lived a full life of success that most of us dream about but in the end he was not a happy person.  He died February 13, 2000 from colon cancer and complications from a blood clot in his leg.  When he died so did Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, Linus, and the rest of the gang.  Right at the end, Sparky said “you know, that poor kid, he never even got to kick the football.  What a dirty trick-he never had a chance to kick the football.”  He died believing that he never truly succeeded.

 

I found the book very interesting because it included many of his comic strips that describe what Sparky was experiencing at each stage of his life.  It is over 500 pages about the life and times of person I have always admired.  I imagine we all grew up reading Peanuts and seeing a little of ourselves in these characters. It was a good read and I would recommend it.

 

~Marc

 

 

 

 

         How I long for the months gone by,
         for the days when God watched over me,
        when his lamp shone upon my head
         and by his light I walked through darkness!
        Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,
           when God’s intimate friendship blessed
                        my house, when the Almighty was still with me,
                         and my children were around me,
                         when my path was drenched with cream
                        and the rock poured out for me streams
                           of olive oil. (Job 29:2-6)

We are not suffering like Job but we do experience some difficulty with aging. Health issues as we get older affect our quality of life. It seems that we spend more and more time at the doctor’s office trying to maintain what we took for granted for years.

The age old question is why is there suffering in the world.   Why do some suffer more in other countries? Job sure did not know why he was experiencing difficulty and his friends sure didn’t have a clue. I guess we will never know, but God does. That should be enough.

The following are a few principles that Job taught on suffering taken from my study Bible.  I think these are worth mentioning:

1.  Some suffering is caused by Satan.

2.  Suffering doesn’t always come as a result of sin.

3.  God is all powerful and good.

4.  God will reward and punish fairly in a final judgement after death.

5.  God does not condemn doubt and despair.

6.  No one person has all the facts about suffering.

7.  God is never totally silent.

8.  Well-intentioned advice can sometimes do more harm than good.

9.  God asks for faith.

10.  Suffering can be used for a higher good.

~Marc

The other night at the office, I got to talking to an older gentleman (like me) who was helping us dig through some last minute tax returns.  For some reason the conversation turned from taxes to our younger days during the Vietnam Era.  He told me that he was in the Army and flew a helicopter for a year during the war in Vietnam.  He was wounded three times and related a story that without God’s intervention he would have been captured by “Charlie”.  He talked about reunions that he has attended and even marched in a few parades on Veteran’s Day.  I am sure that was an amazing time of his life that no one could understand unless they had experienced it themselves.

 I don’t normally talk about my service during that time of my life but I found myself relating my experiences during the 60’s as a kid “wet behind the ears”. I joined the Naval Reserves when I was in the 10th grade in high school.  I had just tunred 17 in January of that year and I thought it would be fun to become a part of US Navy.  I was looking for a little excitement, so I volunteered for the Submarine Service.  In the summer between the 10^th and 11^th grade, I rode a train to New London, Conn and spent my summer attending Sub School. After graduating from high school, I was stationed aboard the USS Sennet (SS408).  The next two years, our “boat” (a submarine is not a ship) traveled the world from Charleston, SC. We went to Cuba three times, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Nassau, and through the Panama Canal on the way around the tip of South America.  Those two years were the most exciting time of my life. During that time, I learned responsibility and what it means to rely on your shipmates to cover your backside. It was a time and a place that almost seems like it happened to someone else or maybe like a dream because those experience are so far removed from my current life.

 After I related my experiences to this gentleman, I actually found a website for USS Sennet and was surprised to find that it was sold for scrap right after I had returned to civilian life.   Kind of sad.

 ~Marc

  Last Tuesday night I was not only struggling with a cold but I was just worn out from tax season.  I am thankful that this tax season is finally coming to a close.  The only thing left will be the extensions which normally will last into the fall because the due date falls on October 15^th.  This year I think there will be more of an incentive to file quickly so everyone can get their “free money”.  The only condition for receiving a little extra cash from Uncle Sam is that you must file a 2007 tax return. I guess nothing is free.  You got to do something.

It seems like I hibernate from January 1^st to April 15^th.  It is very cold when I start focusing on taxes and when I finally wake up in April the seasons has changed from cold dreary days to the beginnings of warm spring weather.  During this hibernation period I hate to get distracted by the “necessities of life”.  I just want to bear down on my task at hand and avoid all the mundane things of life like visiting with friends, celebrating birthdays, getting cars fixed, going to the doctor, talking on the telephone or any other distractions that life may throw my way.  I just want to work and sleep so I can focus on getting through the ordeal.  After 10 years it has become a real chore. 

During this time I do have certain bench marks that remind me how far I have come and how far I have to go.  Some of them are when daffodils start to bloom, the Easter holidays, “March Madness” basketball, Spring Break (of course I don’t participate), and the Master’s Golf tournament to name few distractions that seem to remind me that I am making progress.  I just lose about 1/3 of the year to this little tax exercise.

This time of the year I try to limit the last minute frenzy by stating that all returns received after April Fools Day must be extended.  We do this to make sure we can process the returns we already have in house before the 15^th and to limit my insanity.  But over and over I hear the same excuses and pleadings of my clients who have so called legimate excuses such as a sickness or other difficulties beyond their control.  It is very hard to say no to a client that has become your friend over the years, but I try without much success.

Looking forward to the end of tax season reminds me when I was a kid and I couldn’t wait until Christmas.  I would count the days and imagine the toys that I would receive on Christmas morning.  However, reality never produced the desired expectations.  Tax season is very much like that.  I can’t wait for it to be over but when it is, I don’t feel the expected relief.  I just feel numb.  I guess because it is now time to catch up on all the monthly accounting that I have neglected during hibernation.

~Marc 

 The other day I had a call from an elderly lady who inquired about the cost of preparing her tax return.  After talking with her, I realized that she did not have any income other than social security but wanted to take advantage of the $300 rebate.  This rebate is available to all senior citizens even though they have no taxable income.  Unfortunately, she did not have any transportation to my office, so I took a trip to her house the next morning.  There I saw how the poor live.  It was a very old house and she heated with oil which we all know is very expensive. She told me that she needed the money desperately to pay some of her bills.  I didn’t know how desperate until I filled out her tax return.  She received $942 per month from Social Security to support herself and grandson every month.  Certainly not enough money to live on and I know an extra $300 would be very helpful.  This tax return was definitely “Pro Bono”. 

I think there is a lot confusion concerning this rebate.  Basically, you must file a 2007 tax return to receive the money.  The IRS will use this address on the return to mail you your “free money”.  The amount you receive will depend on your tax liability for 2007.  You may receive $600 for each adult family member and $300 for each dependent child if your 2007 tax liability exceeds these amounts.  If your tax liability is less than the available $600, then you still qualify for the $300 per adult family member.  This is how most elderly on social security can still receive the minimum amount.  But since most of these individuals have not filed a tax return for years, it is difficult for them to understand how to fill out a tax return and they certainly don’t have the money to pay someone else file a return.  I can only hope that they have a family member who will assist them by accessing the IRS web site for assistance in completing the necessary forms.  That web site is www.irs.gov/.       

I think the government could have come up with a better way for the elderly.  The Social Security Administration knows who receives monthly checks and their addresses, so why not add the $300 rebate to their monthly check.  Another problem is that I understand that “we the people” spent over 42 million dollars in promotional advertising to make sure every one in the United States is aware of these rebates.  They have spent tons of money giving away tons of money with the idea that it will help the economy.  We are in trouble.

Marc

  Should I be treated any different because of the car I drive, or the clothes I wear, or because of my appealing appearance, or how much money I have in the bank, or the position and power I may have in my profession?  I think not.  But in this world everyone is treated different based on those things instead of their character.  You can look at the political world today and see many who are treated well because of their political position but their character is definitely not a role model for our children or our grandchildren.  Our values have changed over years.

I started thinking about this driving my car.  I have a 1976 Corvette.  I use it to get from point A to point B.  OK, it is not very practical but I don’t have kids to haul around so it works well for me.  But I noticed when I drive this car; I am treated a little different than normal.  For instance, if I go through the “drive through” at the fast food, the girl or boy smiles broadly and treats me very well and before I leave tells me how much they like my car.  I may be at a gas station and the attendant will come out to make sure everything is working properly because of my car.  Should I receive better treatment or consideration just because I drive a Corvette?   

I am sure many people receive more consideration than others because of other favorable characteristics I noted above.  If it is based on their appearance then they go though life thinking that everyone should like them regardless of their character because they have always been treated that way.  A politician may have been born in a wealthy family and not see any problem spending $4,000 for special favors from another woman other than his wife.  There is a disconnect between what they profess in public and how they act in private.  Most of us over look this kind of bad behavior because of their political position or influence.  They are treated different than the average Joe or Jane.

The result is that we (including me) have no compassion for others. I think everyone should be treated the same regardless of what they have to offer.  We should live in a world where everyone is important. We should try developing in our children and grandchildren character by not only teaching good values but more importantly living them out.  Only then will they know right from wrong and have compassion for the less fortunate.  It is really not all about us or me.

~Marc   

It seems like it was yesterday when I started my CPA practice in November 1997.  My first tax season was in 1998.  I had a lot of energy because I was younger and I was finally living out my dream. 

But there was another important event that occurred during that first tax season and that was the birth of my first grandchild; Rachel. I was dug into a pile of tax returns when my son called from Rock Hill and informed me that they were going to the hospital.  It was March 20^th and the first day of spring.  Without hesitation, I closed up shop and made the trip in record time to the Rock Hill hospital. There are more important things than doing tax returns. I was so excited to finally be a Grandpa and I wanted to be there when she was born.  This occasion was another dream come true that year.  I remember the exact moment she was born.  All of the power shut down in the hospital and the emergency lights came on to commemorate her birth.  I knew something special had just happened.

Ten years later and she is a grown young lady.  Time has gone by so quickly.  This year her parents felt she was old enough to get her ears pierced.  I asked my son if she said it hurt and he replied that is was no worse than a pinch from her younger sister. I guess she still has some time before she is grown up.

Happy Birthday Rachel.

~Papa Marc

  As I get closer to retirement, there is a definite need to save money since I will be on a fixed income.  One area I can save money is by using Skype for my home telephone.  It is a computer based telephone system that is really cheap and it is easy to download at skype.com.  Here are few of the basics:

Free: With inexpensive head phones, you can talk to anyone in the world through your computer for free.  Of course, they must have the same set up.  I paid about $20 for my headphones at Office Depot.  Just down load Skype and plug your headphones into your computer and you have a telephone.  This system worked very well for me when my son was in China while adopting our new grandchild.  I got to hear her over the computer before she even left China; for free.  Pretty cool.

SkypeOut:  This is an added feature that allows you to use your computer to call landline and mobile telephones just like any other telephone.  There is a small fee for this added service.

SkypeIn: This feature actually allows you to get a local telephone number with voice mail.  Anyone can call you from any telephone and it will ring at your computer.  Of course, there is a small fee for this feature as well.

You can purchase individually each additional feature or purchase everything in a bundle price.  I purchased SkypeIn and SkypeOut in a bundle for about $45 per year.  That is about the same price I would pay for a monthly service with any other telephone company.

My wife and I use mobile phones, so we use SkypeIn to receive telephone voice mail at home.   We generally call people back on our mobile phone.  It is very convenient to have a local home phone number for applications when you don’t want to give out your mobile telephone number. If you do chose to use Skype to call out, the sound quality is very good but it can be inconvenient to use head phones. However, there are special telephones you can purchase that allow you use Skype without headphones.  In addition, if you want to get fancy, you can make video calls and send text messages in real time or participate in Skpecasts.  Skpecasts are similar to a “call in” forum about any subject you could think of.  For myself, I just use Skype as an old fashion telephone.

Once you sign up for the basic free service, occasionally you will receive notifications of special deals that can save a lot of money when adding additional features or purchasing their products. Deals are always good.

I suggest you give it a try.  

~Marc   

It seems everyone has an Aunt Mary.  My Aunt Mary lived a couple of blocks from my home where I grew up.  She never had any children so I was very special to her.  I probably took that for granted.  I remember going to her house and experiencing some of the best cooking anyone could eat which always included a healthy size of cake and ice cream. Now that was my kind of eating. Every thing was served on a TV table right in from of the television just for me. 

When I received a go-cart for Christmas, I went directly to her house and gave her the first ride.  After my parents purchased my first car at the age of 14, she was the first to take a ride with me.  She didn’t seem to mind that I had just got my driver’s license and could only drive from 6:00am to 6:00pm.  She just wanted to experience those special times in my life.  After my Mom passed away at 56 years old, she became more like my mother than my Aunt. 

She was very caring person.  Even at the age of 87, she would pick up different neighbors and drive them to church.  Also, she prepared a daily lunch for my Uncle who was paralyzed and lived by himself. After her husband died, she cared for her sister many years who was ill.  There wasn’t anything or anyone she would not try to help.  She even put up a large Certificate of Deposit as collateral for a loan for her Pastor. Unfortunately, he defaulted and left the state and my Aunt lost her money.  I think she was more embarrassed by her lack of judgment than losing her money. She was a very special person and she loved everyone.

At the age of 89 years old, she became very ill.  My wife and I took her to the emergency room and they basically misdiagnosed her.  She was sent home with an antibiotic prescription.  Later that night she woke up in the middle of the night in extreme pain.  She called us a couple of hours later and we made another trip to the emergency room. (It seems that she did not call us immediately because there was bad storm and she thought it would be dangerous for us to drive in bad weather).  This time they diagnosed the problem correctly as a ruptured appendix and performed emergency surgery. They saved her life only for her to lose her ability to swallow any fluids.  In order to survive, the doctor prescribed a feeding tube.  But she refused to quite even at her age and after therapy she was able to regain her abilities and the tube was removed.  Many of the doctors and nurses told me that was very unusual.  But they did not know my Aunt.  There was not anything she couldn’t do if she put her mind to it.

 She lived her remaining years in an assisted living facility.  I visited her every Saturday afternoon and we would talk about the “good old days”.  It was not a burden to spend time with her each week; it was a privilege.  She passed away at the ripe old age of 94 years old.  Every Saturday, I still think of her and how she influenced my life in a very positive way.  I miss her even now.

~Marc