Let's Do The Wave

If you live in a rural area and travel on a gravel road you don't need to read any further, you know how the wave is done. No, city-dwellers, I am not talking about the one-finger salute that is used when someone is cut-off in traffic or otherwise upset.

The wave. My husband was quite impressed with the number of people that I apparently knew and that my Mom and Dad knew when we first moved to ND. I had to tell him I had no idea who the people were that were waving to us. "Wow! They wave and you don't even know them!?"

Here is how it is done - there is etiquette involved, you don't just go around waving. First of all, waving takes place on a gravel road. The special kind of driving needed for sharing 1.5 lanes with a passing vehicle causes you to slow down a bit. Now, look at the other driver's face, not their hands. Eye contact will be made before the wave.

Remember that you are not living near a group of overly demonstrative people so you won't see a whole hand wave (there is one exception - see below). No, there are too many Germans and Norwegians living here. My father is a great example - he drives with one hand at the top of the steering wheel. You will see his index finger flip up, at the last moment prior to passing. That's it - that's the wave.

Try it the next time you drive somewhere on a gravel road. Just give the oncoming driver a wave. It always makes me smile.


OK - here is the exception to the low-key wave. My Mom and Dad have an awesome neighbor. He is the kind of guy who can, and will, fix just about anything, take time to talk to you and is just an all-around nice guy. Dorian waves with his whole arm - forget one finger or even just a wave of the hand. If you see his blue pick-up truck, be prepared to give him an enthusiastic response, but only if you are driving on a gravel road!