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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[deadhead]

I will go with the Petunia's, I have sun in that area. The wave petunia's are hard to find. They look so pretty in a window box (I don't have one, I put them in the ground)

[deadhead]

Hi Maggie, Lucy is waggingher tailwaving hello :-)

[LadyX]

*LadyX smiles hughly, and waves back - seriesly!!*

[deadhead]

:-) Nice to 'see' ya LadyX. Have a good night and a good tomorrow.

Colleen

[The Mayor]

here's a sneak peak for ya

This is a great spot, right in the front yard.
Everyone that drives by can see it.
I am going to run electric to it and add a spot light!

My baby Lily supervising me..

Can you tell I have a sore neck?

[deadhead]

Beautiful, Mayor. I love it! LOL, Lilly is a great supervisor, a job well done by all :-) One of these days I am going to get a stand up flag pole with a spot light. Mine is attached to the tree. Hang my flag every morning and bring it in every evening.

Thanks for the pics, take care of that neck

[The Mayor]

my flag pole was easy to build.

Fence pipe slammed into the ground.
then insert smaller pipe into it 12 ft. long.
drill a couple holes add rope, done in an hour.

neck is better, thanks

[Aquamarine]

LOL! Just whistle at them instead. :) Billie's got the right idea!

Think maybe I should turn the tables on them? :)
Might try that sometime.....

[WVNan]

Kissing cheeks is one of my great talents. I'll only too happy to kiss those little cheeks any time for anybody.

[WVNan]

Beautiful flower bed Rus. Your baby is not so little any more is she? You are quite a handsome dude (I can say that because I'm old. It's one of the perks that goes with age).

[mrstank]

I like my version of a flagpole better. A kit for $30 at Wal-Mart! :) Now I just have to get back from vacation and figure out where to put it!

I'm leaving in the morning, and still haven't packed, so I'd better get going. I just thought I'd stop by and wave hello and goodbye. I'll be back sometime after the 4th! Hopefully I won't miss too much!!

I think I'll actually miss you guys! Maybe I can stop in via my mom's computer sometime next week.

Hope everyone has a good Independence Day!

[WVNan]

You have a wonderful and safe trip mrstank. Yeah, isn't it funny how close we get here on this new-fangled invention? I know what you mean about missing it. I hate it when I get too busy to drop by and say hello to everyone. I feel like something is missing or at least that I have missed something. Happy 4th.

[Aquamarine]

Original Intent of the First Amendment (rerun)

[WVNan]

I can't seem to get my eyes open this morning. You guys carry on.

[Billie]

Good morning, Colleen - since I missed you last night, I wanted to say hello and thank you for your story of your mom waving to everyone.

Also, LOVE that *waving* flag!

[Billie]

I just think outside the box sometimes. :) Must have misunderstood. :) How about a wave instead? Surf's Up!

Have I ever told you how cute you are! That's priceless!

[Billie]

Hi, dutchess! I missed you and Giz's friends waving hello last night, too - are we ever going to have as much time here as we 'used' to?! :(

[Billie]

Hmmmm - same cute graphic, but saved as a .jpg - lost its animation and transparent background. :)

[Billie]

Will you have to get new carpet or does it look like yours can dry out without mildew or other damage?

[Billie]

I think these waving graphics you've posted are so cute! Thanks, Rus!