Hillbilly Elegy

in the new year to save them from the
financial indiscretions of the old one.
Income tax refunds were the ultimate
backstops. “We can definitely afford
this; we’ll just pay for it with the refund
check” became a Christmas mantra. But
the government was fickle. There were
few moments more anxious than the one
when Mom came home from the tax
preparer in early January. Sometimes the
refund exceeded expectations. But when
Mom learned that Uncle Sam couldn’t
cover the Christmas splurge because her
“credits” weren’t as high as she had
hoped, that could ruin your whole month.
Ohio Januaries are depressing enough as
it is.