The Wave

It’s an interesting subculture living in the country. It’s an unwritten rule that if you live in these parts, you wave at folks on gravel roads. It’s kind of ridiculous when I actually talk about it, but it’s a real thing.

The wave is varied, depending on how well you know the “wavee.” Your hand doesn’t leave the steering wheel if you don’t know them. It’s like you just raise your pointer finger off the wheel at them (did you find yourself trying that out as you read it?). It's about a 50/50 response rate, as you might be waving to someone who doesn't know how all of this works, and they may not wave back.

If you do know them, then you take your hand off the wheel in a full-on wave. But you never wave “vigorously” at a farmer. They don’t have time for that. It’s ridiculous and childish. You still wave more than just a “lift a finger” wave, but you don’t get all excited about it.

In-between are those people that you know, but don’t know. Neighbors that you see outside, but you might not have actually been introduced to. Instead of just your finger leaving the wheel, you can lift up your four fingers. But it's not a full-on wave, and your hand still doesn't leave the wheel.

It's amazing, you don't forget to wave, and you don't wave on pavement. It's just second nature after a while.

Going north of my house you venture into another county, where they don’t really wave. Stuck up, they are. You also don’t wave on paved roads. You encounter folks who don’t understand the wave. But here on my road, you can wave all you want. Just be sure that you DO wave. Otherwise you might be mistaken for an outsider.