The “Wave”
Tooling down the freeway on my way home this afternoon I noticed a car in the left lane in front of me with it’s blinkers on, hoping to merge into my lane, and getting the short shrift from the other drivers in front of me. My one rule while driving is ‘use your blinkers’. I have no sympathy for someone who’s weaving in and out of traffic and not using turn their turn indicators.
Anyway….this person was hoping to merge in and wasn’t having much luck. As they neared me I slowed down to allow a gap into which they could merge. They did so, and waved “thanks”. That, I think, is a wonderful thing to do when someone cuts you a break, doesn’t act like a jerk, and actually shares the road. That “wave” that perhaps only one in ten people do is akin to when truckers flash their brake lights at you because you flashed your headlights to let them know that they can merge into traffic in front of you. It’s a reward for the just and an impetus to keep on doing the right thing.
I personally don’t think enough people do the “wave”. Perhaps it’s a sense of entitlement, that some people believe they actually own the road, and that somehow forbids them from thanking a helpful stranger. Perhaps today’s society has just become cold and crass, and waving a quick “thanks” doesn’t even enter into the equation. Or perhaps it’s a combination of ignorance and self-centeredness that certain people just don’t believe in a friendly wave when it’s due.
Whatever the cause, a quick wave certainly makes that long daily drive home a far more tolerable experience.
The “wave”. Do it today. Make someone feel good.
