‘I Moved Over to the Window Seat and Offered Him a Handshake and an Apology’

I was also born in 1953 and treasure my Senior Metrocard. I love this story. We all shared so much together.

“'No!” he yelled. “I don’t have ‘Lonesome Dove,’ and I’ll never have ‘Lonesome Dove.’” I will always love Lonesome Dove.

Good one

You don’t take the middle seat.

I love this series as it reminds me of Tiny Love Stories, which I adore!

When riding on the subway I keep my wet or dry umbrella in my hands. For my own protection, self defense.

Lonesome Dove is my all-time favorite novel. Just had to say that.

As a small time seller myself, I understand the grumpy bookseller. All too well! I strive to have a carefully curated unique little shop. When people come in and say; "Do you have any owls?" (or doves!) without even glancing at the displays, it means they have no interest in the shop or its contents. Sadly, an invitation "Sorry no owls, but take a look around and see what we do have," cannot entice a person who only wants owl images, or horses or frogs. So they get a curt "Nope." and a polite suggestion to try Walmart. Gotta have "Lonesome Dove"? Go to Barnes and Noble. Open to whatever treasure the bookseller might have found? Then browse away.

I think the reason the passenger reacted to the umbrella on the floor is that we use umbrellas to shield our heads. they are in the same category as hats and hoods which is to say they should be kept clean. the last place they should go is on a dirty floor near shoes.

I love New York City and visit there every time I can. This column gives me a chance to enjoy and relish the many interesting people that make it the most fascinating city in the world.

I was surprised you not only put your umbrella on the floor but left it there after the lady mentioned it. My thoughts are it could have easily been stolen or could possibly have tripped someone. I would have held it between my knees while I settled my books on my lap then held the umbrella, still between my knees, with each and holding the handle. Wouldn’t have dripped on you, not really, and it would have helped create a round wall for your books. At least that’s how I imagine it.

I’m happy to see readers settling into the change to a weekly online posting, rather than five days (nights?) a week. It really seemed to hit people hard. But few realized that it wasn’t until 2012 that the five-day schedule was adopted. It had always been weekly up to that point. And online comments were first accepted in 2012, too, making the column more communal. This new Diary 3.0, with the elegant print edition layout and Agnes Lee’s illustrations, seems to have reached a new zenith. I’m happy to see readers so enthusiastic and protective of the column. If you like the Diary, I encourage you to go back in time a decade or two and read a couple months worth in one sitting, using the search feature in digital edition. The evolution from the late 70s to the 80s and beyond is charming, and many of the items are a real hoot — I’m certain you’ll find a few you will want to share with friends. It’s worth the small price if you need to pay for a subscription. And if you are not in the habit of sending submissions from time to time, I hope you’ll try it. It may perk up your senses and help you to see many of your daily routines and transactions in a more amusing light. The joy of simply writing them up is worth the effort, and if you one day you do get published, you will find there is nothing quite like it. Give it a shot and jot down a few ideas tonight.

What a great column. I was walking up to a Barnes and Nobles the other day. There was a woman a few steps behind me. I hustled up to the door, and held it open for he. I was greeted by the nicest smile I had seen in a long while, as she walked through, and said thank you. She then proceeded into the next set of doors, and held one open for me. I smiled back, and thanked her. She said that is part of the reason she liked bookstores - people just seemed to be a little more kind and forgiving. I agreed, and said that small things like that interaction made my day, with apologies to Gov. Swharzenegger(sp).

I love the first, touching story, by Win Sakdinan. So often when people lash out like that it isn’t about the target at all, but rather an expression of an inner itchiness. It warms my heart to read about two people who each admitted their small errors, apologized, and then extended a hand in respect. We need more of that in the world. Wet umbrellas belong on the floor. I hold mine between my feet when I am on public transport.

"Wet Umbrella" recalls Benny Hill: Please don't blame our doggy It's not his fault at all Someone left a wet umbrella Standing in the hall.

I loved Patty's story. I too was born in '53. I've been riding public transit for free for almost a year. In Pennsylvania, we "old people" ride free, thanks to the lottery. (It doesn't actually help me much since I walk to work.)

I would like to know what kind of books the bookseller was selling. P.S. "Out of Stock" is good.

Thank you Patty Dann for a wonderful entry. While I've got you by three years, I vividly remember all the events you described. Those were the days my friend----we thought they would never end.

I keep my umbrella between my feet, vertical with the handle at the top. It is precarious, but the best option available. More than happy to hear of a better method.

Taking the middle seat is your choice but prepare for the shady looks you’ll receive, lol!

Do you really care where she thought you should put your umbrella? Time to move on.

It was my 16th birthday on July 20 1969 when we landed on the moon. I shoulda been in that picture with you all!

My first full time job out of college I was off every Tuesday and Friday and I worked on the weekends. I LOVED it! I believe there is such a draining of life essence after a 5 straight days work week that the week end cannot be enjoyed truly. I worked 2 days, had one off, then worked 3 and had another off. I was able to get three times as much done on week days than on weekends due to everyone else being at work and I never got the "Monday Morning Blues" because I was always off the next day!

The guy who said "you shouldn't be sitting in the middle seat" must have been new to Metro North/LIRR, because usually someone takes the window or aisle seat and puts their stuff on the middle seat hoping to discourage anyone from sitting there. Then when the train gets full someone has to ask them to move it which they frequently do grudgingly.

The tale of the bookseller and "Lonesome Dove" makes me think of "Seinfeld" and the Soup Nazi.

I always carry a plastic bag for my umbrella and store it there when on the subway or bus

The sole purpose of selecting the middle seat when the entire row is empty is to claim the entire row and intimidate other passengers into not sitting in that row. It is rude and inconsiderate of other passengers. I now make a point of making directly for those seats on either side of the inconsiderate passenger, Nine times out of Ten, that passenger then moves to to outer or inner most seat.

Re umbrella & subway... I was born/raised in New Orleans. We didn't, and probably never will have, subways, but we did, and do, have streetcars and buses. The accepted placings of wet umbrellas were either between one's legs or beneath one's bench. When standing, one simply hooked the umbrella over a free arm.

Regarding Bernard Dick's story on the stage door at "The Crucible," it's interesting to hear indication that in its premiere, the relevance to the politics of the day was not as well-known as it seems too have been since I first encountered the play when I was 10 or 11. (Was it easier to talk openly about McCarthyism by 1970 or so than it was when the play premiered?) Also Bernard - My own dream when I was young and oiushing hard for every A that I could get, was to be like “Bernard” in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” and just once have the honor of arguing before the Supreme Court. (Winning the case hadn't been an issue to me then!) About two months into law school, a professor, when I mention this, explained to me during lunch with some of us students that playwright Arthur Miller was just a little off on having that be that huge a deal. He said that it’s the subject matter not the quality of the attorney that mostly gets you to argue there; if you’re there because your client wants to appeal all the way to the top, it usually means you lost for them at the levels below! If you’d won at the court below, there would be no need to appeal to the Supreme Court. He was having fun with it just a little - but that turned out to be pretty logical as I learned the case law over the next three years!

Ms. Grody, I think the answer to your question is that there is no good place to stash a wet umbrella on a subway car. You chose the most considerate option so as not to inconvenience your fellow riders. Some venues provide plastic bags that a wet umbrella can be slid into, which certainly helps, but an umbrella wet or dry still poses something of a problem on a crowded subway car. Professor Dick, you must have thought about having seen Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” while you were working on your book “Radical Innocence: A Critical Study of the Hollywood Ten,” which I enjoyed reading along with others of your many books about movies, Hollywood, and American society and culture. And Mr. Sakdinan, your story about two commuters offering apologies and handshakes to each other is most refreshing in this era of “road rage,” incivility, and vituperation. I thank you and your fellow contributors for a most interesting set of Diary entries.

That umbrella story is intriguing.

Keep "The Metropolitan Diary" as a weekly feature !

Keep "The Metropolitan Diary" as a weekly feature !

The middle seat most often has the best, least worn cushion. It's more comfortable and better for your back. Nothing says you have to fill the window and the aisle seat first. Win Sakdinan is a winner for acquiescing for the sake of peace and harmony. The repentant commuter is a winner for re-thinking his point-of-view during the ride and then acting on it to clear the air between them. It's a win-win that makes a better world - and a much better weekend.

I loved Patty Dann's feeling of kinship with the people on line, and what a wonderful last line! That makes sense that they were so close in birth date, since I guess people get that as soon as they're eligible. When I was in law school, a dorm neighbor and I realized we were the same age, which was just a little younger than others because of some accelerating earlier, and he asked when I was born. I said May 1960. He said he was born in November 1959, then added, "You missed the 50s, man. They were great!"

Just a long overdue 'thank you' for your Metro Diary. Today's entries, like so many others before, brought a tear to my eye and smile to my heart. Whenever anyone asks me 'What is it like living in New York' I tell them to read this column. What is the Big Apple anyway but the millions of everyday stories like these?