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EASTPORT, NY – A seasonal home decor item with a very specific Long Island twist is gaining surprising viral traction online, causing both amusement and annoyance among locals. Crafted by Eastport artist Sarah Jenkins, the “Long Island Railroad Commuter’s Pumpkin” features a hand-painted rendering of a classic LIRR train with a disgruntled pumpkin-headed passenger staring out from a window.Jenkins, who operates an Etsy shop called “Shore Things Designs,” says the idea came to her last week after a particularly frustrating trip home. “The train was delayed, packed, and it was just a total nightmare,” she said. “I was already sketching pumpkin designs, and it just kind of clicked. It’s a joke that every commuter on Long Island understands.”The artist's design captures the shared misery of the daily commute, complete with a tiny, detachable “delay notice” that can be placed on the pumpkin's side. The item, which retails for $45, sold out within hours of being posted online and has since been shared thousands of times on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.The online comments are a mix of appreciation and eye-rolling. "It's so accurate it hurts," wrote one user from Huntington. "I need this for my desk to remind me why I work from home."However, not everyone finds the humor in the situation. A Facebook group for Long Island commuters saw some users criticize the product. "We know the LIRR is a mess, we don't need a $45 pumpkin to remind us," said one commenter from Massapequa. "Maybe she should have decorated a pumpkin to look like the new Island F.C. mascot instead."MTA officials have not commented on the popular, though unofficial, tribute to the railroad."I didn't expect it to blow up like this," Jenkins admitted. "It was just a little local joke. But it goes to show, everyone on Long Island loves to talk about the LIRR, for better or for worse."Jenkins is now rushing to complete a new batch of the LIRR pumpkins for her customers. While she's found viral fame, she said her greatest hope is that the orders are filled on time. "I wouldn't want to get delayed by my own design," she joked.
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