Two Sure Things in Life..Death and Taxes

In the United States, we are innocent until proven guilty. However, when it comes to a tax audit, it seems that the opposite is true. Obviously if you're being audited, you've done something wrong and, by golly, we're going to expose every purchase, garage sale, Amazon order you've ever engaged in. I'm told by the state auditor that there are 18 different taxes in Hawaii. Ah...the state auditor...Hawaii's special version of the welcome wagon. We've filed once. ONCE. in the state of Hawaii and that year is being audited. It's so, well, exposed. Every packet of Mucilex you bought, stops at McDonalds etc. is laid out for the auditor to look at. As an anthropologist, I know how those little bits of unearthed information adds up to profile.  It makes me question my education - do I really know that much about those peoples who went before that we've pieced together with shards of pottery, kernels of grain, and bits of fabric unearthed from a thousand years ago?
So the audit is angst number one. Make the madness stop!!!
On a more solemn note, my dearest friend in the world appears to be closing her earthly chapter of this life. I say "appears" only because she has risen like the Phoenix so many times before that I'm not willing to say goodbye just yet. Over the past 30+ years she has been my confidant, my mentor, my inspiration and from time to time, the biggest source of irritation when she insisted and discussing politics. I've learned to crochet (and unsuccessfully, knit) from her. We've shared countless recipes, books, jokes and secrets through the years. She always finagled a way to take something from my house that she liked every time she came over. But she is the most generous, giving person I've ever known. I hate that she watches Fox News. I even hung up on her once on the phone because she insisted on bashing the Democrats - which she is fully aware that I am - but she forgave me.
We started a Book Club some 20 years ago when all I had to look forward to in my life was waiting for the Safeway Coupon Book to arrive in the mail. She's still doing Book Club. Each year, she would crochet or needlepoint a special bookmark for each of us to commemorate our anniversary. She raised my children as her own grandchildren. Her husband baptized my husband when we joined the church. And when I moved to Hawaii, she came to visit me. And forgave me for taking her on the road to Hana.
It's part of life to eventually leave it. We all know it, but it's not a subject that we want to dwell on. It's like watching a marvelous movie but not enjoying it because we're focused on the fact it's going to end and we'll have to go home. So we immerse ourselves in life, cling to it, and at times take it for granted. We don't want to be the ones left behind, but we don't want to be the one to go either. If we believe in life beyond our mortal existence it gives us comfort. My friend knows there is something waiting for her. I know there's something waiting for her. And I know I'll see her again.
I guess that's the other sure thing besides death and taxes.