2003-10-06 6:52 pm

Russian Bird

Today a huge, unknown bird heaved itself into the air and wobbled off towards a gastank on the horizon.

"I am ungainly," it seemed to say, "but at least I am aloft."

I admired the sentiment. It seemed to be a hint, or a nudge.

"Don't be too down-hearted," the old bird was saying, with the calm conviction of a Russian Grandmother. "We are all struggling. But we'll get there in the end."

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