With a Chip on my Shoulder.

It could be harder to say than "I'm Gay."

I knit on the commuter train in the morning. And I sit near up to five other knitters. Yuri, Tara, Pitty Pat, Paula Pat and the Stranger Lady. It's almost a knitting circle. (It's the same folks I drink with on the evening train.)

I sit near the door through which other commuters enter, very near the conductor, so it's a high traffic, high visibility area.

I get LOTS of comments from complete strangers about my wool, color choice, even stitches, etc. "Thank you." "Uh huh." "Thank you." I say, but inside I'm thinking "Keep moving, nothing to see here." I liken it to strangers putting their hands, unbidden, on pregnant tummies.

Anyhoo, Tara came up with a GREAT suggestion this morning. Next time Madam Stranger Blue Hair smiles condescendingly at me knitting and asks in the almost baby voice "What are YOU knitting?" I'm going to respond "Assless Chaps."

You KNOW they're expecting you to say "A scarf."

I may be misinterpretting the looks I get from the women in the knit shops - but I get them all the time - and it reads to me like they're thinking "you'll never knit beyond a potholder - maybe you should crochet."