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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[Billie]

[Billie]

Hi there! (waving) I'm sorry to say that I'll be gone most of the day, but hope you get a chance to stop in - if not, at least honk and wave as you go by! :)

[hole_n_one]

[hole_n_one]

Hi, Billie!

[jwfiv]

Howdy, Miss Billie.

Dubya asked me to tell you he and his Laura love this thread.

I do, too.

In West Texas, out in the farm country where my Grandpa lived, everyone waved hello from behind the steering wheels of their cars and tractors, which, I always thought, was right neighborly of 'em.

[Diver Dave]

WAVES, eh?

Well let's see now. I remember this cute blonde WAVE Nurse I had during a stay at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego...

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Tuesday !

[MeekOneGOP]

Dubya: Meek, you're right! FreeRepublic.com IS the "Best site on the 'Net!"

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Billie.

[The Mayor]

Jesus said to them, "Follow Me . . . . " They immediately left their nets and followed Him. —Mark 1:17-18

Following Jesus is always right—but not always easy.

[The Mayor]

June 22, 2004

"Follow Me"

Read: Mark 3:13-19

Jesus said to them, "Follow Me . . . . " They immediately left their nets and followed Him. —Mark 1:17-18

Bible In One Year: Esther 6-8; Acts 6

---

When the United States launched its space program in 1958, seven men were chosen to become the first astronauts. Imagine the excitement of Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. They were selected to go where no one had ever gone before.

Yet, as astronauts they knew they would face unforeseen dangers, challenges, and trials. Each of them realized that the thrill of being chosen was tempered with the fear of the unknown future.

Imagine another set of men who were chosen for an important mission: the 12 apostles Jesus chose one day on a mountainside near the Sea of Galilee. These men left behind their occupations and families to dedicate themselves to this radical new teacher. They didn't know what kind of political, religious, or financial challenges they would face. Yet they followed Jesus.

Jesus asks the same of His people today. He asks each of us to follow Him, to love Him, to obey Him, and to tell others about Him. Like the apostles, we don't know what our commitment to Jesus might bring.

Lord, help us to follow You faithfully and to trust You completely with our future. —Dave Branon

I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day;
Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth—
He is the living way. —Hartsough

Following Jesus is always right—but not always easy.

[LadyX]

It was my privilege to move from a city in Florida to outside a (then, before Cape Canaveral and the Space Station) small town at age 9 so my father could be centrally located for his statewide consulting engineering business.

A mostly cattle raising area with a few small farms nearby - sandy, unpaved roads - friendly folks in abundance - it was obligatory to wave to one and all passersby - to render assistance to anyone, if needed.
Friendliness and helpfulness were paramount.

We grew up *never* locking our doors, not fearing breakins.

In later years, it still amazed me that our neighbors from a Northern state literally triple-locked their house's doors if they even stepped outside just to work in the yard or chat with neighbors!

Sad note on what has become of America's state of mind, afraid wherever we are of crimes being perpetrated against us - terror from within, every bit as much as from without.

[lonestar]

Actually, I preferred barking to waving.

Barking is a greeting. I never barked "Good-bye." I "greeted" everybody who passed my house.

Weinie

[Texagirl4W]

Your best one yet, Meek. Gotta love it !!!

[Darksheare]

Here, but storms are rolling in, gotta sign off.

[Texagirl4W]

Waving back. Sorry, no graphics but I'm waving. Have a terrific Tuesday, everyone.

[WVNan]

Ha! Are you guys in trouble now. Roy put pictures on a website and I find that I can move them. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! Grammy can share Emma's pictures.

[Diver Dave]

Keep'em coming, Nan.
Beautiful little lady you've got there.

[LadyX]

"Actually, I preferred barking to waving. Barking is a greeting. I never barked "Good-bye." I "greeted" everybody who passed my house."

Hi there, Weinie!
We loved your "greetings" here when you campaigned
for Governor of California.

(During the debates for the Democrat Party nomination
for President, I wondered what sound Dean's dog makes!)

I wave a lot with these long arms - -

[LadyX]

"Well let's see now. I remember this cute blonde WAVE Nurse I had during a stay at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego..."

Dave The Wave Man, eh?
(Just your typical swabbie..:))