This week and last week have been…AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHIIIIIEEEEEEEAAARRRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! And that’s putting it mildly. 😛
But much to my surprise I got pumped back up and relaxed last Friday from probably one of the most surprising things ever. A visit from a Texas Sales/Use Tax Auditor! Yeppers, you heard right!
Stress has been a major meal ticket since I was sick back at the beginning of the month. Came in last Friday feeling beat down, moody, unhappy, lower than low. Brain was pretty well fried so synapses weren’t firing at their best to boot. I also didn’t expect the day to get any better, so this low point was probably the highlight.
Luckily, fate, the Big Guy, the Powers that Be, decided to send a little ray of light my way. This was done in the unexpected guise of a Sales/Use Tax Auditor.
Like I said, the brain wasn’t firing well at all, so when I got the call from reception and they said there was someone there from the Comptroller’s office, my brain registered something else entirely. (I’m sure Velina thought I was on drugs I asked her so many stupid questions about the visitor before getting down there to see her. lol.) I knew her too, as we’d met the year before on another client, but I swear at the time I didn’t in any way recognize her. (Been forgetting people lately and it’s getting a little creepy!) She remembered me at least.
Anyway, I dragged her upstairs, even stupidly admitting I didn’t remember her at all! I think she thought it funny rather than insulting (I hope!) and we yakked until my brain refreshed on when and why she’d come by before. As our clients list us as a location, we tend to be the first point of contact for the state ones if there’s an issue with their tax payments. Anyway, as she lets me know why she’s there and I start pulling contact info so we can find out what’s going on, she was cracking me up. She’d slept late, even though she woke up to the alarm, got up, and fed the dog – because she went back to bed! Second alarm came on – she looked at it, turned it off, went back to sleep. Then her dog got involved. Licked and bothered her, as the dog knew she was late and didn’t want her to get in trouble. (How cute!!!) So she got up, threw some clothes on, did her hair in a pony tail, grabbed her makeup and went to visit the first client. She had me in stitches. (Won’t even go into the how to take a nap or get off early that day part of the conversation! lol) Was even funnier when she spoke to the client’s accountant and I could tell the lady on the phone got a little cheeky with her so the auditor did the “you’re past the deadline and I need something done about it now or else” routine. Then mouthed to me and asked if she’d sounded too nasty! I told her she was pleasant yet firm – very nice. The Sales/Use branch can now do leans and stuff against bank accounts, so they have some definite muscle now. Never mess with the government!
By the time she left, I was feeling much better than I had before she arrived. Invigorated me enough to get me through the whole day, put up with what I needed to, and leave me in a decent mood for the evening too. Saved my day! So that old addage that a smile can go a long way, or being pleasant can really make a difference to someone’s day or life, is no joke! And it can come from the unlikeliest of places.
So smile, say something nice, you might just make or save someone’s day, even if you never know it. Making a difference was never easier.
And if I’m lucky, I’ve somehow made a difference in your day too. Hope you have a great one!
