Go ahead, tax me.

12 years ago I was making three times what I’m making now. I paid taxes. I still pay taxes, but not nearly what I was 12 years ago. I wish I could pay more, because...

...do you know what else I was doing 12 years ago?

1. Taking two vacations (real ones) a year with my son. Nothing too fancy. Fishing, hiking, camping, etc. to different states. Stops to historic sites and the occasional amusement park.

2. Taking road trips on a regular basis. Nothing to do? Hell, let’s jump in the car and see where we end up for the weekend.

3. Going to movies. In a theater.

4. Going out to dinner. Nice dinners where I had to actually wear something besides jeans.

5. Buying birthday presents for damn near everyone I knew, and didn't know.

6. Giving money to charity. Much more than I do now.

7. Driving a new car that didn’t scare the hell outta me every morning on my way to work.

8. Helping out friends and family when they needed it.

9. Going to a doctor thanks to a super awesome health insurance plan that included vision and dental. I’d even go when there was nothing wrong with me just to make sure I was all good. That’s how I found out I had cancer. Well check. Awesome lifesaving miracle.

10. Eating healthy. My son would actually complain if I had to work late and we ordered a pizza. Eating healthy tasted good and made us feel better. It was also really expensive.

11. Buying clothes. I didn’t have to do laundry twice a week because I ran out of things to wear. I even had a functional winter coat that fit.

12. Going to a gym twice a week. I miss that the most, I think.

13. Not worrying about how to pay the bills. I knew I’d have plenty left over.

That’s the sad 13. Despite paying ‘more’ taxes I still had plenty left to do what I wanted and needed. Don’t try to tell me that some twit with millions stashed in international accounts is going to suffer if he/she needs to cough up a few thousand more in taxes. That’s insane. Sickening, really.

I’d be happy to join that higher tax bracket once again. I really, really need a vacation.