Stripes

Early morning walk. Starts out cold. Feels like I'm dressed for the snow: overalls, vest, scarf, thick jacket, gloves, hat. Roly-polying down the beach, the only person there. Then a man appears with two very happy dogs, the little white fuzzy one joyously digging in the sand, the old long-eared red hound not too sure where the stick went, but just glad to be alive. Me too.