i met a fellow birder on spider bridge running the other way with his wife and introducing me as they passed and the wind took her name. she stopped and hugged mister and reminded me we had met and i said oh yeah, i remember, yesterday right? no? the day before? no, a while ago, we were on the island and you were complaining. she mentioned to my bird friend how i was complaining and he said, oh yeah, that's doug. ha ha, i said, i thought it was just yesterday. she said i think you're always complaining. we smiled, charmed, i'm sure. if you keep on walking and complaining and smiling and people smile when they see you and don't look blank, it becomes almost an art. the best art you carry with you, working and shaping, walking and talking to your shadow and the dog, to anyone who listens, with every breath and smiling complaint.