A Train Conductor\'s Empathy on the Local

Dear Diary:

Under the heading of something not to look forward to is the announcement I heard the other week on an Long Island Rail Road train that departed from Pennsylvania Station.

The conductor said, “You are on the painfully local train to Babylon.”

Read all recent entries and our updated submissions guidelines. Reach us via e-mail: diary@nytimes.com or telephone: (212) 556-1333. Follow @NYTMetro on Twitter using the hashtag #MetDiary.