Despite being in the zip code CRAZY, this town really is situated in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenery this state has to offer. The drive takes me about an hour and a half, but I don't mind at all because I can sit in my car, half minding the road, and gaze upon mountains, prairies, green grass, cows, meadows, and glorious, glorious trees. It's all full up of peace, baby. And the people on the road are friendly, by gummy, which I guarantee you I will NEVER stumble upon on my highway drive to my regular school. On that road people flip each other off, race to get in front, and honk like a rabid duck at you if you actually dare to slow down through a construction zone. So you can understand what a lovely diversion from the open hostility of the 4-lane road this is for me.
Believe it or not, on this winding road that wanders though several small communities, people actually WAVE. That's right, WAVE. At each other. At me. And heck, they don't even know me or how generally hostile I can be on any given day. They so inspire me with their friendliness that I can't stop myself from waving right back.
Which brings me to today's topic, and I'm sure you're all glad that I've finally gotten there: the laws and culture of greeting upon the back road, the road less taken, the scenic byway of America.
Oh, you might think it's simple enough, but let me assure you, it is not. Apparently there are codes of behavior for vehicular waving. For instance, don't take you hand off the wheel to do it. Friendliness is nice, but that level of enthusiasm is just embarrassing for everybody. When I first learned to give the wave, I was a little nervous about my form. Here I am preparing for an upcoming SUV:
See how the clenched that hand is? Geesh, relax already, Wicked.
All right, I decide to go in with all I've got--ALL FINGERS up while resting the heel of my hand on the wheel:
Nice, but I realize I'm dancing on the edge of too much here. I decide to tone it down for the next one:
Hm, I don't know. This seems to imply that I'm not really trying hard enough. Like maybe I don't care. Have I become lackadaisical already? I hope not. It's also clear that I need to work on my timing. HEY, COME BACK HERE, I AM GREETING YOU WITH ONE FINGER!! But not this finger:
Because that is just rude and invites danger. And not the good kind.
Fortunately, there's a good long break in traffic. Now I can contemplate that mile long crack in my windshield and ponder my next wave technique.
Oh, look! Here comes a friendly neighbor! This time I'm ready.
Hand relaxed, fingers prepared...one...two...three...GO:
Hey! I think we have a wiener! And somehow with my magical powers I have managed to change that big silver truck to a small red car. And put a mountain in the background. Coolio on me.
After some serious data collection, I can tell you that two fingers is the trick, my friends. In a study that flies in the face of all things scientific, I determined that more people respond to the two-fingered wave than any other kind. Don't ask to see my research; it was lost in a fire. A fire that I set. Sorry. To divert you, let's just gaze upon a few things beautiful before I go:
That's all for today. I hope you've learned something here that will be useful on your journeys. A note of warning, however: do NOT try this on the highway. Something bad is bound to happen and you'll probably end up in a two-paragraph story on the back page of your local newspaper. So go in peace, but not too much.
That's all for today. I hope you've learned something here that will be useful on your journeys. A note of warning, however: do NOT try this on the highway. Something bad is bound to happen and you'll probably end up in a two-paragraph story on the back page of your local newspaper. So go in peace, but not too much.
7 comments:
A fun post and a fun subject! Did your passers by also notice that you were photographing them and your hands WHILE TOU WERE DRIVING?!
I recently found out they also do this little wave near Los Angeles! I was snooping around a town called Fillmore and ended up way off along a road populated by avocado orchards. I was going real slow to snoop on all the homes, when I noticed a line of cars behind me - so I pulled off. I wondered if they were suspicious, that maybe no one with a Toyota T-100 like mine lived around there, and I wondered if I looked like I was casing the joints. Then I noticed as I pulled back out onto the road that one of the trucks had pulled into a driveway, turned around and was heading back my way. oopes. So I summoned up my "Colorado rancher" persona (real blase and bored) and casually lifted one finger as I passed - so did the old lady in the other truck! I - the hardened city dweller - passed!
Great post! And a timely topic, as it turns out, because just the other day and once again S.B. made fun of Moi's own technique. Of course, it's in HIS genes, just the right flip of the fingers, but Moi, I remain mostly way too enthusiastic. But I'm working on it. Four fingers of the left hand, with heel in place on wheel and thumb tucked seems to be where I'm headed . . .
LOL, what a fun diversion for your hour and a half drive.(Noticed the different jewelry, too)I have often tried this on the gravel road to my neighborhood--my data show about 1-5 will respond. Snooty peeps around here...no wonder we don't have Round Robins, just sayin...
being situated in the flatlands of central oklahoma, i ignored the lesson on technique and enjoyed the highway landscapes instead.
daddy AJ hasn't been off the 4-lane in years....
I lived in a small town in South Dakota where everyone waved at everyone, all the time, so I know just what you mean.
Also, um, how did you manage the pictures of yourself while waving? Scary.
A good point, geekgirl, and I'll tell you this--it was a LOT scarier for those other cars than it was for me. (More blog to come on driving with no hands. Ooh, foreshadowing!)
afanny: you know, i once again find myself grateful that you haven't been strung up somewhere for your trespassing ways. don't you ever, ever change.
Moi: maybe we should take a class? where would this class be offered? and who would teach it? could we trust them to really teach us the proper technique, or are there geographic variations?
DR: i knew--just KNEW--that your eagle eye would pick up the diverse jewels upon my fingers. that's because you're visual.
daddy aj: you should come visit. seriously. i'll show you rural.
i will, i WILL come visit! but, um, after HRH has had Her turn.
Post a Comment