Honk and Wave

Thursday, November 08, 2007


I am not ready for any burnt down bridges just yet.

I don't want anything except that if we drove side by side going down the highway that we could honk and wave.

My grandparents live in a small town where everyone waves when they drive their vehicle past another and it doesn't matter if they know each other or not.

I try this from time to time and compare with it with statistical data recorded from a previous trip to their small town.

DW thinks its funny. I give a honk and wave. Most of the time I simply throw up the pointer finger while still gripping the steering wheel. I always try to do this in such a timely fashion that the other driver, be it a stranger or friend has time to acknowledge said friendly gesture.

If I get a wave or a finger lift of sorts then I count it. I also count head nods and hat tipping. You don't see as much hat tipping these days. I have been trying to no avail to bring it back, you know, kind of what Timberlake did with sexy, only more successful.

When I travel up north of the Mason Dixon line, which is quite often, I do this routine as well. Or at least I did for a while. From Rhode Island to Pennsylvania with New York in between, I get zero responses other than the occassional serial killer type who is looking for prey and quickly turns their car around to follow while I have to dodge and weave to lose them.

I don't count so much up there anymore. It also doesn't pay to say sir or ma'am or hold the door for the next person through or even smile for what its worth.

If you say sir, then someone expects you to carry their bags. If you say ma'am then you must be implying the lady is old and that is particularly frowned upon these days in those neck of the woods. If you hold the door open you need not expect the same in return.

You will however find that people are allowed to wedge their cars in traffic by nosing the front end past your vehicle changing lanes. Down South, we have a more fighting attitude about the car etiquette than they do up North. They can even honk and no one cares. If you honk at someone in Alabama you might need to be ready for an altercation of sorts. Up there, a honk is way of saying "hey buddy, you can go or wake up" but its not usually very mean spirited.

But as for me? I want to be able to honk and wave. I don't want to burn down bridges with anyone. Do I agree with everyone I meet and know or every place I go? No, but I am still going to tip my hat in your general direction.

Life is too short to carry any anger, besides the only person pent up anger hurts, is the the person carrying it around.

Be of good cheer and listen to the song on my profile by Limbeck, its called "Honk and Wave".

RW