Why the federal government chose April 1 as national Census Day needs no explanation except that it's the government, and that it's a suitable setup for jokes on late-night comedy shows.

No matter, because the April Fools' Day designation was really a soft deadline. If you missed it, you can still mail in the form through this month.

It's not like your tax return, which is due—yikes!—in 11 days, no ifs, ands or buts.

In fact, the benign Census people say some people may not get their forms before April 12 and if they don't, they should call to get one.

When I received mine a couple of weeks ago, I set it aside, thinking I'd get to it when I had an hour or two to devote to it. But in finally peeling open the envelop, I was surprised to see how short the form was.

Consisting of 10 questions, it didn't require a 12-digit calculator, a box of No. 2 pencils with sharpener, sheafs of documents and official records, and the sweat and headaches I had come to associate with filling out government papers in April.

The questions were simple, but, as can be expected, the ones about the prickly issue of race drew complaints.

Some people were bothered about the outdated term “;negro”; that was included with “;black,”; and “;African Am.”; after one check box. Complaints were registered about the specificity of origins under the “;Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish”; question, set apart from another dealing with groups like Asian or American Indian.

A clerk at a downtown office supply store said the question confused her and her parents. As local Portuguese, she said, they are considered white, but she and her family look upon themselves as “;kinda Hispanic.”; Since none of the designations fit them exactly, she said they wrote in Portuguese in the space allotted, which was OK, according to the bureau.

If you don't fill out your form, the FBI won't be kicking down your door. Despite hyperbolic warnings from a loony congresswoman (read that, Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann) and talk-show racketeers (i.e. Glenn Beck), who claim the government will use the data to put you in internment camps and take away your guns, the most that can happen is a bureau worker will come and ask you the 10 questions in person.

Mailing in the form costs the price of a stamp. Having a census taker hassle you will cost about $60. Your tax dollars go further with the postal service.

About $47 billion in federal funds, such as grants for education, are distributed based on census information. Data is also used to determine election districts for fair representation.

There are many conspiracy theorists and tea-sippers who believe treachery is behind counting citizens. Nothing to be done about that.

I look forward to seeing the information when compiled next year, to get a glimpse of who we are, how we view ourselves as ethnic groups blend and as we age, the number of men, women, children in the nation and how and where we live. It will present another version of the ever-evolving American portrait.