--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somewhat overly legibly, I wrote on a…" description: "\"“Somewhat overly legibly, I wrote on a sheet of paper, \"We're held up indefinitely by the parade. We're going to find a phone and have a cold drink som..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/j-d-salinger-560_old-man_somewhat-overly-legibly-i-wrote-on-a-she_2985871.jpg" --- # Somewhat overly legibly, I wrote on a sheet of paper… ![“Somewhat overly legibly, I wrote on a sheet of paper, "We're held up indefinitely by the parade. We're going to find a phone and have a cold drink somewhere. Will you join us?" I folded the paper once, then handed it to the Matron of Honor, who opened it, read it, and then handed it to the tiny…” quote by J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/j-d-salinger-560_old-man_somewhat-overly-legibly-i-wrote-on-a-she_2985871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/j-d-salinger-560_old-man_somewhat-overly-legibly-i-wrote-on-a-she_2985871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/j-d-salinger-560_old-man_somewhat-overly-legibly-i-wrote-on-a-she_2985871.jpg) > ““Somewhat overly legibly, I wrote on a sheet of paper, "We're held up indefinitely by the parade. We're going to find a phone and have a cold drink somewhere. Will you join us?" I folded the paper once, then handed it to the Matron of Honor, who opened it, read it, and then handed it to the tiny old man. He read it, grinning, and then looked at me and wagged his head up and down several times vehemently. I thought for an instant that this was the full and perfectly eloquent extent of his reply, but he suddenly motioned to me with his hand, and I gathered that he wanted me to pass him my pad and pencil, I did so- without looking over at the Matron of Honor, from whom great waves of impatience were rising. The old man adjusted the pad and pencil on his lap with the greatest care, then sat for a moment, pencil poised, in obvious concentration, his grin diminished only a very trifle. Then the pencil began, very unsteadily, to move. An "i" was dotted. And then both pad and pencil were returned personally to me, with a marvellously cordial extra added wag of the head. He had written, in letters that had not quite jelled yet, the single word "Delighted." The Matron of Honor, reading over my shoulder, gave a sound faintly like a snort, but I quickly looked over at the great writer and tried to show by my expression that all of us in the car knew a poem when we saw one, and were grateful. На едно листче — някак прекалено четливо — написах: „Парадът ще ни задържи неопределено време. Искаме да потърсим телефон и да пием нещо разхладително. Ще дойдете ли с нас?“ После сгънах листчето на две и го подадох на придворната, която го прочете и предаде на дребничкия старец. Той го прочете ухилен, погледна ме и усилено закима с глава. Реших, че това е изчерпателен и напълно красноречив отговор, но той махна с ръка към мен и разбрах, че иска да му подам тефтерчето и молива. Подадох му ги, без да поглеждам придворната, която на вълни, на вълни излъчваше нетърпение. Старчето намести много внимателно тефтерчето и молива на коленете си, застина така, явно събирайки мислите си, после, почти все със същата усмивка, вдигна молива. Много неуверено моливът започна да се движи. Накрая бе сложена акуратна точка. След това с изключително сърдечно кимане тефтерчето и моливът ми бяха върнати. Още пресните букви гласяха: „С удоволствие.“ Придворната погледна през рамото ми бележката и издаде звук, подобен на пръхтене, но аз веднага обърнах лице към великия писател и се постарах да покажа с изражението си, че всички ние веднага можем да различим една истинска поема и сме му много благодарни.”” [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A brief, humorous exchange where an elderly man conveys delight through a single word, highlighting simple communication and shared appreciation of poetry. **In simple terms:** An old man shows delight with a single word, and the narrator values the moment. Key Takeaway Notice and cherish small, sincere gestures of joy. Themes communication humor appreciation human connection literature Mood lighthearted reflective Type literary conversational When to use this quote - travel - group outings - spontaneous writing - cultural exchange Key Concepts social interaction nonverbal cues literary narrative Questions to Reflect On - What moments of simple joy have you overlooked? - How does shared humor strengthen group bonds? A Different Perspective The brevity may mask deeper emotions or context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) ## Related quotes > [“Finally, spurred by the appetite to which he was indifferent, he took any one, read the printing on the parti-colored label of paper. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gould-cozzens/finally-spurred-by-the-appetite-to-which-he-was-indifferent-he-took/) [James Gould Cozzens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gould-cozzens/) > [Certain things work on paper held together with staples. 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He read it, grinning, and then looked at me and wagged his head up and down several times vehemently. I thought for an instant that this was the full and perfectly eloquent extent of his reply, but he suddenly motioned to me with his hand, and I gathered that he wanted me to pass him my pad and pencil, I did so- without looking over at the Matron of Honor, from whom great waves of impatience were rising. The old man adjusted the pad and pencil on his lap with the greatest care, then sat for a moment, pencil poised, in obvious concentration, his grin diminished only a very trifle. Then the pencil began, very unsteadily, to move. An \"i\" was dotted. And then both pad and pencil were returned personally to me, with a marvellously cordial extra added wag of the head. He had written, in letters that had not quite jelled yet, the single word \"Delighted.\" The Matron of Honor, reading over my shoulder, gave a sound faintly like a snort, but I quickly looked over at the great writer and tried to show by my expression that all of us in the car knew a poem when we saw one, and were grateful. На едно листче — някак прекалено четливо — написах: „Парадът ще ни задържи неопределено време. Искаме да потърсим телефон и да пием нещо разхладително. Ще дойдете ли с нас?“ После сгънах листчето на две и го подадох на придворната, която го прочете и предаде на дребничкия старец. Той го прочете ухилен, погледна ме и усилено закима с глава. Реших, че това е изчерпателен и напълно красноречив отговор, но той махна с ръка към мен и разбрах, че иска да му подам тефтерчето и молива. Подадох му ги, без да поглеждам придворната, която на вълни, на вълни излъчваше нетърпение. Старчето намести много внимателно тефтерчето и молива на коленете си, застина така, явно събирайки мислите си, после, почти все със същата усмивка, вдигна молива. Много неуверено моливът започна да се движи. Накрая бе сложена акуратна точка. След това с изключително сърдечно кимане тефтерчето и моливът ми бяха върнати. Още пресните букви гласяха: „С удоволствие.“ Придворната погледна през рамото ми бележката и издаде звук, подобен на пръхтене, но аз веднага обърнах лице към великия писател и се постарах да покажа с изражението си, че всички ние веднага можем да различим една истинска поема и сме му много благодарни.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.D. Salinger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/somewhat-overly-legibly-i-wrote-on-a-sheet-of-paper-we-re-held-up/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Old man" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/somewhat-overly-legibly-i-wrote-on-a-sheet-of-paper-we-re-held-up/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/j-d-salinger-560_old-man_somewhat-overly-legibly-i-wrote-on-a-she_2985871.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/j-d-salinger-560_old-man_somewhat-overly-legibly-i-wrote-on-a-she_2985871.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f17/j-d-salinger-560_old-man_somewhat-overly-legibly-i-wrote-on-a-she_2985871.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Somewhat overly legibly, I wrote on a sheet of paper, \"We're held up indefinitely by the parade. We're going…” — J.D. 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