A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....06-22-04....The Fine Art of Waving

Billie

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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A custom of the country: Is it merely a polite gesture?
By Jo'el Freeman

M y husband will wave to anyone. He attributes this tendency to a span of time he spent on a small island off the coast of Rhode Island. There, the only people that didn't wave to you in passing were tourists - and you certainly didn't want to be accused of being one of those. Besides, he feels that waving is an act of goodwill and that even the grumpiest person will feel a little better after being greeted by a hearty wave.

That's why, when we moved from a house in the woods to a house on a main road, we continued our custom of waving whenever a familiar car drove by. A sense of neighborliness required us to do so.

My husband and I take turns standing in front of our house with our second grader as she waits for the school bus. Every day, the same people drive by on their way to work or school. There is the small pink vehicle we call the Barbie car, for example, and the c. 1970s van covered with gray patches of body filler that we refer to as the Hippiemobile. Some drivers give us a big smile and wave like we've known one another all our lives. Others start out tentatively, moving their hand only slightly so that if we don't wave back they can pretend they were only fixing their hair or scratching their forehead.

I understand their hesitation. Unlike my spouse, I can't bring myself to wave to everyone. Once, while we were on one of our exploring jaunts, we found an appealing back road that turned out to be a good shortcut to a lake. We had to slow down considerably to negotiate a sharp curve. Just beyond the bend, we were surprised by an elderly woman sitting in a green lawn chair situated directly on the side of the road. As we passed her, she waved. It turns out she sits there every day and waves to every car that happens to gy by. I have always felt she must be a little eccentric or lonely. But this is reading a lot into the situation, because she looks very contented. Anyway, a part of me fears that people will think I am eccentric if I start waving to every car that goes by our house. After all, I am home a great deal more than my husband is!

You probably would be surprised, though, to discover how many people wave to us first now. Some people accompany the gesture with a toot of their horn, which is the heartiest kind of wave. Friends from town that come to visit us and relax with us on our front porch soon find themselves automatically raising their hand in salute to passersby. I always tell these congenial guests that they have just learned the fine art of waving.

Yesterday I went to the post office. In the lobby, standing in front of me in line, was a man I have waved to almost daily for the past four years. He heard my toddler babbling behind him and turned around to look.

"How you all doing? Boy, this one sure is getting big!" he said to me, smiling at my child.

"She surely is! I have to watch her every minute," I replied.

"I'll bet. Hey, that new deck looks great!"

"Thanks - we love it."

"Well, have a great day - nice seeing you."

"You, too! Bye-bye."

The funny thing is, we had never met before.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 06-21-04 Military Monday

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[WVNan]

Well, time out. I've been invited over to see Emma. BBL.

[Darksheare]

There's one that really makes me freak, it's called 'social butterfly' and it reminds me of a friend of mine.
Sometimes I smell it, and I know for a fact that it cannot possibly be there.

[Temple Owl]

It's a grand ole flag!

[The Mayor]

What a sweet little face!

[The Mayor]

Hello LadyX

[The Mayor]

Hi Billie!

[The Mayor]

I'll be sure to wave at everyone...except the construction workers. lol

You got somethin against us construction workers, we luvs to see purty girls!

[The Mayor]

LOL! Just whistle at them instead. :)

Billie's got the right idea!

[The Mayor]

Now that's a wave!!

[deadhead]

"It's a grand ole flag!"

"Now that's a wave!!"

Smiling :-) Hope you both had a great Father's Day!!!

[The Mayor]

Yes I had a good day, I planted red, white and blue flowers under my flag pole.

I have to upload the pics and I'll post em..

[MeekOneGOP]

Okay. See you later. :^D

[WVNan]

Thank you Rus. She is a preemie and has a lot of "finishing" up to do yet, but she is like a little flower. I just went over to their place and just sat and held her and cuddled her and looked at her tiny little hands and feet, and I am amazed all over again how God can knit together such a perfect creation in such a short time.

[lonestar]

She is a cute puppy and almost as small. I haven't seen her for two days. I'm getting antsy.

Give her a lick for me!

Weinie

[deadhead]

"Yes I had a good day, I planted red, white and blue flowers under my flag pole."

Great! Would love to see your photos. I planted a lot of impatients (lots of shade in my yard) And some wave petunias. LOL, they have a long way to go...

I have a Support Our Troops sign in the front, want to put red, white and blue flowers in front of the sign. Still looking for flowers to put there, what kind did you plant?

[The Mayor]

I know, it truly is a Miracle of life.

I have 6 all together, 9 brothers and sisters and many neices, nephews and cousins.
There is nothing like the smell, feel and touch of a newborn..

but that doesn't mean i'm gonna have any more.
I'll wait for grandchildren.
I have 2 but never had the chance to hold them.

Kiss those sweet little cheeks for me, would ya?

[LadyX]

Hahahaha - - do you realize "That Man" has not just waved, but touched my body in Real Life???

No joke!

Will have to 'splain tomorrow, since I'm getting ready for an out-of-town jaunt early in the a.m.

[deadhead]

"I am amazed all over again how God can knit together such a perfect creation in such a short time."

It really is amazing, Nan. One of those miracles in life :-)

[The Mayor]

we planted petunias, the blue is really a dark purple.

I wanted to get wave petunias but my friend at the garden shop was out.

[The Mayor]

next time you see him tell him I have coffee on just waiting for he and Laura to come over !!