DEAR ABBY: May I comment on your response to “Got Here First in Pennsylvania” (Jan. 7), who asked whether someone sitting at the end of a church pew should move if someone comes and says it’s his or her “favorite seat”?
There are many reasons why people remain sitting at the end of a pew: an allergy to perfumes can be overwhelming if you’re sitting in the middle of a row; claustrophobia; weak bladder; physical limitations; the need for more leg room; and the need to use the armrest to stand up and sit down.
Author Jeanne Phillips, the daughter of the original advice columnist Dear Abby, poses for a photo in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 5, 2007.The early bird does get the worm and shouldn’t be expected to give it to latecomers. Likewise, possession is nine-tenths of the law.
If people have a favorite seat, they should arrive early to ensure they’ll get it. That’s what we do. And when someone wants to sit in the same pew, we smile, step aside and let the person in while retaining our end seats. — OVERLAND PARK, KAN., ATTENDEE
DEAR ATTENDEE: Thank you for making your strongly stated case. When I told “Got Here” to be an angel and shove over, readers were quick to offer me “chapter and verse”: