Karma?

Do you believe in karma? I have lived a lot of years and I have come to the conclusion that it does exist and has been following me around most of my life. I guess the question is whether it is a good thing or not?

As most of you know I have prepared income taxes for many, many years and, when estimating my taxes I try diligently to break even with the government if I can. I don't want to make them an interest free loan for most of the year but I also don't want to short pay and end up writing a big check with penalties and interest. Don't get me wrong, if I can write a big check on April 15th with no penalty or interest I am just fine.

So this year circumstances with some compensation from a former employer resulted in a significant over withholding of taxes and hence, a sizable refund coming my way. So I received my last required form on Thursday and cranked the information into my tax software and voila! BIG REFUND! Daddy is smiling because that money will come in handy for our trip to see Emily and family in April.

Not so fast, Big Boy! Seems as if karma has other plans for that money. I get home Thursday night and tell Emma of our good fortune and she had a little good news from the dentist. She has $2,000 of dental work that needs to be done. Okay, I can deal with that. I am reading my mail and the car dealer had sent me a nice letter that very day telling me that the recent service I had done on my car indicates that I need new tires. Good bye another $400!

Well, that stinks but I am still positive about the situation. Until Saturday morning and Emma informs me that we have no hot water. Sure enough, can't coax a drop of hot from the faucet! So it looks like the plumber will be getting some of that as well. I can hardly wait for tomorrow to come!

The question is do I have good karma or bad? In some respects it is good that I am getting the refund because of these unanticipated expenses facing me. On the other hand, is this karma's way of telling me I really don't have control and that the money was going regardless of my plans. I choose the former rather than the latter because life will definitely be easier that the money is there. Regardless, Emma will get her dental work, the tires and the hot water heater will get replaced, and we will see Emily and family in April. Life is good!