Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Leveling the playing field for back-to-school supplies ... Making progress ... Our View: Every little bit helps in reducing emissions ... Leveling the playing field for back-to-school supplies ... Making progress ... Our View: Every little bit helps in reducing emissions ... SOUTHERN OREGON JOURNAL On taxes and coffee comforts Comment By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 19, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 19, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Well, another taxation celebration day has passed. The lively street Lady Liberties may fold their crowns and rest their waving arms for another year. This time, when I picked up my taxes, Denise, with the practiced tact of a clergywoman, informed me that I owed. When she unveiled the damage, I saw it was enough to throw a small political fundraiser, with live music, and trusted it would be well-spent. Cough, cough. The accounting office installed Denise as the perfect side-tracker of disgruntled owers of additional taxes. Any old office person can handle smiley refund recipients — the ones who proclaim in a crowd which cruise this year’s haul will fund. But Denise’s eyes fairly sparkle and her smile disarms as she changes the subject and assures me that she loves my column and can’t wait to read the elusive novel when it shows its spine. Yes, she’s good, the way she beelines for the solar plexus of my pride. Denise turns that frown upside down. I leave chuckling like an idiot, like I’m planning a cruise, until I’m out the door and catch myself clutching a fistful of tax debt. At least I get to pay for such masterful psychology. I’ll never discover to what vault all the extra dough I made vanished. It was speedy, in and out lucre, the filth of which never soiled my hands. I paid a visit to the place where they keep my retirement fund in an iron lung. I walked up to the front desk and asked Linda if that was where they gave out the money. “If it’s yours,” she replied. It may have had my name on it, but it belonged to Uncle Sam and the great state of Oregon, the governor of which no one voted for. I shipped their money off straightaway and paid extra postage to make sure I could prove it was paid on time, or else. Of course, since I have no withholding and get to make estimates, raking in those extra piles of mullah meant elevated checks for the first quarter. So much for my celebrating Earth Day. I’ll need to return all those trees I’d planned to plant in order to blow oxygen into the air. One mature tree can emit enough oxygen for 18 people, but the government uses a whole lot more air than the average citizen. Escapism works for me. Immediately after mailing my one, two, three, four checks to pay for superb governance, I flew to the bosom of Jacksonville to drown my sorrows with a Good Bean mocha. I scraped up enough change to manage this. While wallowing in self-pity, I eavesdropped. I get some of my best stories by leaning in and poking my nose where it’s not invited. This time, it intruded on a conversation between Michael Kell and the JVille trolley owner. Michael and his wife, Mary, own GoodBean Coffee. The men psyched one another up for a busy summer, while visions of tourists danced in their heads. I asked Michael what he most looked forward to in the season ahead. He said, “I look forward to bringing this beautiful space that we’ve had for 25 years to its full potential.” My curiosity was piqued. I was pleased to learn that GoodBean Coffee indeed revels in a successful 25-year run in the Rogue Valley this year. To celebrate, Michael and Mary plan to transform the Jacksonville Bean into a full-fledged bakery, complete with various breads. Their pastry baker already concocts irresistible goodies there. Have you tasted a dream bar? Forgotten your tax headache? Now, the historic space will delight our noses with the savor of freshly baked bread in harmony with rich coffee brews. The plan is to have it up and running by May’s end. News like that couldn’t help but dispel the tax blues.  Peggy Dover is a freelance writer in Eagle Point. Reach her at [email protected].         By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 19, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501