Epiphany!

What an epiphany I had today!  I was reading some comments to a recent newspaper article regarding a newly proposed drug task force in our small, rural county.  Among the comments was a complaint, from someone that seemed to be worried about the impact of drugs in our area, that this will cost tax payers more money.

I have to tell you, the comment ticked me off.  I mean, if you're really concerned about drugs,would you be complaining about the possibility that your taxes could rise slightly in order to fight the epidemic?  Wouldn't you be willing to contribute $5, $25, even $50 extra a year to help?  The more I thought about it, the more irritated I got.  Who are you to complain about a tax increase to help this addiction epidemic?

Let's take a step back.  When my husband entered his most recent rehab just a year ago this month, we had nothing financially to help offset the cost.  We could no longer afford regular life, nevermind what this was going to cost.  In fact, we were once asked by one of his counselors if we would be willing to legally separate in order to assist financially, among other things.  (That's another rant altogether!)  He was forced to apply for Medicaid, which covered his medical needs for doctor visits, medication, etc., but because of the fact that we "own" our home and had retirement accounts, he was unable to use that insurance to cover the cost of his stay at the facility.  The only option we were left with was for him to cash in the majority of his state retirement.

On top of all of the other anger I had over the situation, including the financial hit I was taking here at home, this really made my blood boil!  I mean, come on!  He spent 17+ years contributing to that account.  It wasn't a huge amount by today's standards but, in my mind, that money was going to ensure that we could enjoy life a bit when we retired.  And if he can have the luxury of cashing it in to pay for 9 months of rehab away from his wife and children, why couldn't I have use it instead to pay the 9 months of bills I was facing alone?  Yeah, I was pretty bitter.  In the end, the retirement was cashed in for the amount he needed.  I had to let it go.  He paid the tax and penalty for it right off the top so we wouldn't take that hit later, but then tax season rolls around this year.  There was a kick in the stomach.  Over $3,500 deducted on our return because of that "extra income" we received.  Income?  You're kidding, right?  It just made the anger that I thought I had let go resurfaced all over again.

Then I read that comment today, and I quote:  "We are going to create a new job ... to do nothing but bleed more money from the taxpayers."

All of a sudden it hit me.  SMACK!  I was just like that county resident.  I was more concerned about our money than our family!  Think about it, Erika!  That money that I thought would provide security and entertainment in our retirement would have meant absolutely nothing if he never even made it that far.  And let me tell you this: he never would have had any hope of making it to retirement had he not spent that money on his recovery.

Maybe neither one of us will actually get to retire ... God never guaranteed us specific time here on this earth ... but if we do make it that far, I'm thinking that retirement fund, and our tax dollars, will have been invested very wisely and, God willing, we will have much more important things to enjoy.