What we complain about says alot about who we are as people. There's that old saying, I complained about not having shoes until I met a man who had no feet. We can definitely find someone who has it worse than ourselves. In times of duress when I feel like complaining, I just stop count myself thankful that I am not that guy who gave the Mark McGuire record-breaking homerun back for free, you know, the homerun ball that just sold at auction for three million dollars.

At least we live a country where our right to complain is protected by the constitution, that is, unless we were to complain about, maybe a naughty president. Then all of a sudden Larry Flynt is sending goons to our house to dig up our past. I sorta wish he would visit me actually, I don't seem to remember anything I have done risker than taking that Kroger candy stand candy 4 and 5 at a time instead of the regular 3 for a dime.

I wrote this little poem/song about how I can always look to someone who has it worse than me:
It's called, "I complained," and it goes, something like this...

I COMPLAINED THAT I WASN'T RICH, AND I FELT VERY JUSTIFIED
THEN I MET A STATE SENATOR THAT HAD NO LOBBYIST TO OFFER A BRIBE
I COMPLAINED WHEN I GOT THE BILL FOR A 40 DOLLAR STEAK IN A RESTAURANT
THEN I MET A BASEBALL PLAYER THAT WASN'T MARRIED TO A SUPER MODEL OR A DEBUTANTE

I COMPLAIN BUT I GOT NO RIGHT.. LIKE LOSING MY REMOTE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
I KNOW I HAVE IT BETTER THAN MOST.. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A 2ND HOUSE ON THE COAST

I COMPLAINED ABOUT MY HMO AND HOW IT WOULDN'T COVER THE COST FOR MY TOUPEE
THEN I MET A LASER NEUROSURGEON.. WHO COULDN'T PLAY GOLF BUT EVERY OTHER DAY
THEN I MADE THE WORST COMPLAINT OF ALL.. THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY GOOD SHOES..
THEN I MET A MAN WHO DIDN'T HAVE FEET.. BUT THEN I THOUGHT.. HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BUY ANY SHOES

I COMPLAIN BUT I GOT NO RIGHT.. LIKE GETTING AN AISLE SEAT ON A FIRST CLASS FLIGHT
I KNOW I HAVE IT BETTER THAN MOST.. SOME PEOPLE DON'T EVEN HAVE A VALET TO MAKE THEM TOAST

Sometimes I think we have so much complaining because boring people abhor silence and the air has to be filled with something. I know I have to watch myself on this account. How about you?

Billy Murphy 1/15/99