being a good spouse

 Among many other volunteer positions that my wonder spouse has, he is in charge of mailing out our neighborhood association dues notices, and then collecting those dues.  He also responds to inquires from title companies checking if association dues have been paid.  Many homeowners don't seem to realize that unpaid association dues, plus any late fees, are a lien on their property and must be paid off when they sell their property.  Most of the people in our association pay their dues every year on time.  One unlucky soul recently had to cough up $800 for unpaid association dues before the sale of his house could be completed.  Our dues are only $48 a year so that's a lot of unpaid dues and late fees. 

This is the time of year when the statements go out, and I, attempting to be a good wife (you know - for better, for worse) have been helping in a small way.  Yesterday I stuffed 400 envelopes. Happily his printer prints the addresses on the envelopes.  I want to be a good helpmate but hand addressing all those envelopes would have been just too much.  Also happily, the envelopes were self sticking so no licking.  That would have been icky.  Today, again without licking, I put the stamps on those 400 envelopes.  My spouse, in case you're wondering, was not just sitting around while I did these chores.  He was organizing and printing out the special notices (one year, two years, three years, etc. past due) to those few recalcitrants who are behind on their dues.  

So the next time you get an association dues letter, think of the poor person and, quite likely, his or her spouse, behind the scenes, toiling away to get those notices sent out, and pay your dues.  Or better yet, volunteer to take over the job.  We're not getting any younger.