TC0619

ViewPoint
By Megan Cullingford-Hicks
Tax Time is Here.
Are You Prepared?
Silver A New Anniversary
Point of View
By Megan Hicks
We’re solidly into another
another time. Turns out, “another
This month year, marks with 25 years the I have President
worked
time” is, that uh, this editor month.
Most would agree that they hate adore my animals, and was the pain persistent of losing one
at and
change. officially
Trucker’s Learning Connection to sworn live (and with in a parent
new
to
is undoubtedly acute…and But whether wore never you down more are the so more owner than who when disci-
called it’s
another company perspective four Target years can Media be of rocky…especially
trying Partners to along
get
unexpected. back plined with than a higher I’m I angry, pay with offer. heartbroken, your And suddenly taxes stunned,
and I was
when with the sister you country publications really liked back and your on various old track perspective. divisions (hmmm, in and really, expenses somewhat REALLY or you’re over in those as shock. big holidays, a Our paperwork night kneejerk and
Changing the company).
schools, A quarter
changing century
jobs, at the
moving job I took
to
reaction weekends.
was So
to I accepted
not get another the job…you
dog. know,
Why
what will that debt total look like
mess as me, it’s imperative that you as
a
“until
new
something
city, getting
better
divorced,
comes along.”
losing a loved risk
until something
the heartbreak
better came
again?
along.
But the reality
one, in losing 2017?), a pet, the your holidays child going behind away to
us
is, a trucker my personal keep life track is not of all complete your spend-
without
college, I (hopefully majored even in changing all Communications your lanes lights in for are college truckers
down so
pets. ing And through There then is I the started a reason year. working You people can at track who Trucker’s
own
it
who this ended up being a career right in line with my Connection, and I made friends with folks who
chosen
and have field.
Santa long One
has driven snag:
left the I never
the same building), route (and
intended to be
and pets in made
weekly, live longer coming
monthly and to the
(or happier office
biannually lives (according
daily a pleasure.
works)
liked doing so) is unsettling. It takes effort. It
to research). And we have another young We
print publishing or advertising. Communications
laughed as much as we worked. Two coworkers
takes
tax
“some
season
getting
upon
used
us.
to.”
Try to contain
dog—a
but whatever
Sheltie--who
it
needed
takes,
and
track it. It
was Getting your simply excitement.
into a great a habit and easy of anything subject for is me—I
nice
deserved were can mean Kim a and companion.
a huge Brian, difference best friends between from high
because never I minded can we speaking procrastinate learn to do front things of like a group; really a champ in well, fact, school what We’d in you barely a small cough acknowledged town up two to hours Uncle that away Sam we that would
and had
with I was always a “talker”—just ask my mom and all
moved to the big city for better jobs. I learned
so one it’s with eye open, a heavy you heart might that say. I stare You indeed what goes own another into your dog savings at some account. point when
drive my grade a route school so teachers.
often, you
loads from them I both. received I learned an from amazing the pesky
call
So when I graduated college, I wasn’t
editor that wouldn’t let me say no to begin down to forget the mountain the drive itself, of expenses and Truckers are from allowed a friend to who write was off helping the any job.
sometimes entirely receipts sure wondering what that I would still if do need your
as a career. to be tallied
expense I traveled necessary a neighbor to cool for places, find them a attended good to com-
home great
truck The and internship didn’t totaled just office know for at before the my school way
I can sent
pay a visit
plete their conventions, jobs—from for his met one even pens year more to old industry
incredible dog. The
without my information out even though I was
people as I got out on road and
to my
you accountant.
having to steer.
I have the best of
magazines to
breed? meals (check
Beagle. the
How stipulations
on that) more) to weigh assurances station that costs
the
rather aging For free.
could
But graduating, with this and habit I was comes inundated the with
interacted this not with be people Fate? via After email 25 and
(or
offers from companies work for them.
letters
possibility intentions of falling throughout into a rut the year of man-
than this
One
leaving stuff,
of those
the of
offers
comfort
keying totals and
and anything
was from the
A year
owner else
or
truly not
so
wanted reimbursed
after hiring
to rehome
by
on at
zone, incredibly figures even
persuasive into if you’re my spreadsheet editor
unhappy.
of TC at as the I go time.
and
your Trucker’s company. the
Connection,
dog, we met
I
Murphy,
became
who
the
It’s I had easier
zero to
interest
deal with
and
the
kept devil
avoiding him. When editor. Five years
got later,
along I
wonderfully
was promoted with
filing them away in a neat and to
you know than the devil you
Murphy orderly If you lack the discipline to track
Guinness (sensing a theme?).
I realized the calls wouldn’t cease, I acquiesced publisher/GM. As the digital world evolved, I
don’t, fashion. right? But somewhere between, oh, these totals He’s throughout beautiful the and year was (wel-
as
and agreed to come interview “for the interview
took on more roles in that area. Kim and Brian
Sometimes February of our one choices year are and ours February to make of much come in to need the of club!), a companion at least our toss Sheltie.
the
experience,” I decided. But I wasn’t working free;
both moved on and we had other folks come
and I was the we in next, can the market my stay neat in our
for and comfort a paying orderly zone job. receipts as We Like the
and receipts brought
go through in folders him home
the years. or envelopes as the newest Some I loved, marked Hicks
some
long grown as we up I want—rut
was.
or no. Or we can opt family I despised, member. some And I tolerated, the adapting others has I admired.
now
turns into a daunting stack of paper with each month and then spend a day
to venture to a new world. We live with the begun. Am I still angry that my family life was
I interviewed with one of the TC owners who
But from my relationship with all, I learned
consequences slips varying either sizes way large but at enough least the to altered each February in a way tallying I did not them want? up I am. for the
Do I
I’m pretty sure forgot I was coming in or perhaps
and I grew as a person.
choice swallow is ours small to make. children. And this year grieve tax man. and hide With in the what bathroom it saves to cry? you I do.
in
the But is editor no sometimes never different. told the him I choices might because have are he (the made owner)
for
it
taxes, But Last sometimes week I bet that I received unwanted day is the the devastating change biggest can oneday
news
lead
us—out was wearing a bathing suit a tank top for our
that Kim had passed away. We hadn’t been close
of our control—and those can be to amazing things if you don’t spend too much
to
the meeting. June or
toughest I’d heard July
to before
adapt of casual to. offices I began
Not only but simply
are this took
you
time of late payday
digging but the you
in memories enjoy
your all
heels with year.
trying her were to prevent still so
learning things stockpiling a new way level. invoices of He life offered and after receipts a me big the change, job with for
something vivid, Email I have your that cried is view and unpreventable.
laughed point as to I looked Megan@ back
but pay every it’s but easy at a intention pittance, to be bitter which of because getting I declined the to because
change
them
TruckersConnection.com.
Whether our history. you’re Without forced her, to I may make actually a change have
was I made made more and money you had slinging no voice drinks the at a bar.
you continued don’t want searching to make, for that or you better have option a change I was
decision-making.
Granted, Find your I was favorite sick of working magazines nights, at weekends,
TruckDriverMagazines.com
to sure deal was with out that there. was With completely her, I realized out this of TRUCKER’S CONNECTION your
11 was
holidays, Through and an on unexpected my feet. But and with awful bills tragedy, to pay, it
control, the best keep option an for open me. mind. Thanks It’s to ok Kim to and be upset to all
I was recently easy lost to turn a beloved down a pet—a low-paying young, job female I never
and who have miss been your a old part way of my of story life. in But trucking. you also I’m
Beagle. wanted to Losing begin with.
a pet ranks up there with
might excited be to very see what surprised the next at chapter the potential will bring.
the
some of the worst experiences of my life. I
new. Send your All things viewpoint happen to Megan@truckersconnection.com
for a reason.
Send your viewpoint to Megan@truckersconnection.com
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