A Good Surprise in the Land of You don't Get What You Want

I set up an appointment to see my accountant.

I have been putting this off because I didn't file any tax return last year and I thought I had missed paying my 2009 taxes.

I expected many penalties and accounting fees, and a shit pot load of work to compile all the house building expenses for the 2009 tax return. And, I thought it was due in December.

Way to much work now with the house completion and a trip to Colorado in November.

So, with much trepidation, I made the appointment because it was keeping me up at night. I hate it when worry keeps me awake. This has been happening a lot down here.

My accountant demands that you be on time. What!! You say! In the land of nothing gets finished and most appointments are at least an hour late? Yep, if you are late, no appointment.

So I was a little early because I will be damned if a Panamanian will get the best of me around time.

He, of course, was on time.

Senor Zapata is a talker. He speaks good English so talking is easy.

He has his assistant look up all the tax records while we visited. And visited. And visited.

Panama actually has a computerized reporting system. And it was up and running. And the Pin Code worked even though it was 2 year old. Will wonders never cease!

As it turns out, I had paid my taxes through our attorney. I forgot. That was great news.

Then, he told me he filed my taxes even though he couldn't contact me or my attorney. I don't know what and the hell she was doing. She is only 2 blocks down the street.

But...he filed my taxes...without any information from me! Is this great or what.

I bent over backwards to thank him. And, I shoved my nose up his ass, puckered up and kissed it too. That's right, I'm not beyond a little ass kissing when things go very, very well.

In the Land of You Don't Get What You Want, my accountant went out of his way to anticipate...I didn't think anticipation was in the culture...the need to file my taxes, without any communication from me or my attorney.

Wow! Double Wow!!

He saved me a bunch.

And, taxes are not due until March.

Hurray! Procrastination here I come!