another adorable subway story – I’m not kidding!
Another subway story – this one really made me happy. It’s another hot and muggy day, even early in the morning, and we’ve got a long holiday weekend ahead. I think people (especially the early morning commuters) are all a bit dazed – at least, they were in my subway car this morning. Since I’m coming up to my last day at this job, I’m not killing myself to get in so early so I was traveling during more regular rush hour than usual, which meant I didn’t get to sit. No matter; the train wasn’t densely crowded so it was just fine. I stood next to a pole in the center of the car, in case the conductor was one of those kinds of drivers, and pulled out my knitting.
this isn't the actual swatch, but it IS this yarn
[sidebar announcement! I am knitting a swatch! I KNOW! Kelly is a good influence on me, plus I really want to make a beautiful sweater that fits me.]
So there I was, a bit dazed myself, listening to the new RadioLab podcast and knitting my swatch. At some point I finally glanced up and all the people sitting in front of me – and I mean very literally all the people, each one in the entire row – were gazing up at me with slight smiles and big eyes. You know how it is when you’re kind of out of it, and something captures your attention, that kind of dopey unfixed smile you get? Well, it was like that. All these people gazing up at me with slight dopey smiles. In their dazed state, seeing someone do something a little unusual must have been just enough to capture their unfocused attention. I felt like the mother, or the teacher, and it was really charming. I wish I’d had a hidden camera so I could’ve captured it for you.
At the next major stop, most of the people on that row shook themselves a little and got up to leave the train, but a couple of guys stayed. And for the entire trip, they held that expression on their faces.
Tonight I’ll wet block my swatch; I feel like such a responsible grown-up! 
What a sweet story – you made their just-out-of-bed, sleepy selves happy! I take the bus to work, and the difference between the morning commute – quiet and sleepy — and the evening one — noisy and almost raucous — used to surprise me. I much prefer my fellow commuters in the morning.
On her own blog, janna just wrote a post titled..More crochet-
ME TOO, Janna – at the end of the day, everyone is hot and cranky and overloaded and they just want to get home. Almost never a fun time! I’m glad to see your blog – of course we have UT Austin in common. I did my PhD there, and loved Austin. Had family in San Antonio and went there all the time. Finding new bloggers is one of the best thing about people leaving comments – thanks for leaving this note!
I always love your subway stories! So sweet they were so enthralled by your knitting. And hooray for a grown-up swatch. It’s gorgeous so fingers crossed it will be a beautiful sweater that fits
On my commute this morning I spent half of it next to a guy that was driving a van while texting. Scary and stupid! I did my best to stay out of his way as he weaved down the road….
On her own blog, Laura just wrote a post titled..Listen to the expert
UGH – you sometimes see women driving down the highway applying mascara, too. I once saw someone with a book propped on the steering wheel, reading and driving. (OK, that last one was me, actually.) SO dangerous to everyone in the vicinity! I’m glad you were able to stay out of his way.
This was a particularly sweet subway story, I loved it myself.
I love it! It’s true that sometimes knitting in public garners attention that way, like people aren’t quite sure what to make of it, but they’re good with it in general.
yep – i truly attribute this morning’s experience to people being dazed by the heat. i hope it’s not as gross there (wait, i seem to remember your post about it being cloudy and cooler…..). anyway, as always, lovely to hear from you jocelyn!
Great story, so cute and very visual.
On her own blog, perches just wrote a post titled..revery
That is really neat – Love it when people get fixed on our knitting…
On her own blog, Sara just wrote a post titled..Ten on Tuesday 20…
it was neat – i’ve been thinking about it all day, with a little smile.