Thursday, January 4, 2007 - 8:10 a.m.

My first "el" ride of the new year and I was going to another stop. I went to the Irvin Park brown line which was my stop for 5 years. I noticed that when I used to take the brown line, I always gravitated toward the front yet now on the red line, I am a last car rider.

Sitting across from me is this man who I knew before I moved Chicago. We met through a mutual friend in MN. When I first moved here, I would see him out sometimes and we would have cordial chit-chat. Then it seemed we both were really disgusted with the other one and can do no better than to sneer at each other upon each meeting. We always make eye contact, never say hi and immediately look away.

I am surprised not only by his behavior but mine as well. It is like the Hatfields and McCoys, the disdain is still there but the reason is vague. I will give him kudos for reading an interesting book (The Brooklyn Follies).

I changed to the red line at Belmont. There was a large woman who pulled out her jury summons from a large bag in the window seat - which she would not give up. She also wore a sporty red beret - the perfect accessory for a court appearance.