Letters

I really wish I could put a sign on my car this summer, and drive around with it all day, one that reads: “PLEASE STOP HONKING!”

Living on eastern Long Island my entire life, and living in Sag Harbor for over 20 years now, I am appalled at the number of vacationers, or those who are not local, who are honking their horns in traffic. I find it to be offensive, rude and not in character with how we live out here.

For those visiting, I wish to remind you that you chose to come out here — to live and vacation by our beautiful beaches, our local venues, our pristine landscapes and our kind culture. Isn’t it sad, then, that when in route to our pristine beaches or our local venues, or frankly driving anywhere in our wonderful village, you choose to be oh so rude and honk the horn in your car. Really?

I ask you: Where are you going that is more important than the person in front of you? Why do you need to get there so quickly? Is it not obvious that we are overcrowded at this point? And why is it a problem to have to be patient? The sense of entitlement and instant gratification is overwhelming this summer.

If you are going to be out here, please respect the way we live and the way we treat one another. Leave your dog home when shopping so we don’t have to listen to him/her barking (unless, of course, it is for a medical need — I mean no disrespect there), bag your own groceries to move the lines along, say “please” and “thank you” at the restaurants where staff are working tirelessly over the summer to accommodate patrons — and, most of all, stop honking the horns on your cars! Remember, you are here on vacation to enjoy the relaxing nature of our area.

I am grateful for vacationers. I am glad to have visitors admiring and taking in the beauty of where we live, and happy to share. But please remember, you came here to relax. Please remember that honking is not something we ever hear much of, if ever. This is not Manhattan.

The next time you have to wait in traffic, remember that everyone else is waiting with you.

Try to subscribe to the notion that we are a “family,” we are kind and we are patient. If this is out of character with who you are then perhaps you need to rethink where you want to be next summer.

Rest assured, the next time we hear you honk, we will think, “That’s not one of us!”

Allison Corcoran

Sag Harbor