I like The Wave. I want The Wave. I want to kick the person’s butt who denies me The Wave. Do you know of what I speak? I am not talking about that thing in the sports stadiums that makes you get off your behind, flail your arms like a Muppet on crack, and spill stuff. I am talking about that little acknowledgement you get from a fellow driver on the road. The simple hand gesture that can say “please”, “thank you” or just “I acknowledge you exist”. The Wave.
Never gave it much thought? Well, neither did I. That is, until The Wave was gone. (Feel free to hum a few bars of “Don’t know what ya got, ‘til its gone”, I did)…
Even during my 10 years in LA, where driving is sometimes like something out of a Mad Max movie (only without Tina Turner riding shotgun), you can still get The Wave – and I don’t mean the one where the middle finger is prominent (although, that one is generously given as well). I am talking about a true and significant appreciation Wave, enough, at least, to feel satisfied.
But then, I moved to New Orleans. Now (disclaimer coming), New Orleans is a great city, with many wonderful attributes and people – boy, do they know how to throw a party. However, when it comes to The Wave, they are a big, fat void. In my 5 years living there, no matter how hard I tried, begged, frantically waved, offered beads and occasionally even a boob flash (ok, not that one) I could never illicit a return or acknowledgement Wave in any way, shape or form. And, I missed The Wave, desperately.
However, our next big move was to the Mid-West. And, much to my pleasant surprise, Mid-Westians (Mid-Westers?) really know how to work The Wave. You know how the Eskimos have 100+ words to express “snow” related things? Well, that is how prolific Mid-Westians are with The Wave. I kid you not (‘cause that would be so unlike me). Here are just a few that come to mind:
The “Thank You” Wave.
The “No problem” Wave.
The “Go ahead, I’m in no hurry” Wave.
The “Sorry I did not see you there” Wave.
The “That’s Ok” Wave
The “Thanks for not honking at me even though I deserve it” Wave.
The “Sorry to make you wait while I cleaned up the juice my kid just spilled” Wave. (followed by…)
The “I can see that you are stressed and I won’t make it worse by honking at you” Wave.
The “We are just two cars passing on a country road” Wave.
The “I’m cool” Head-Wave.
The “I’m even cooler” Chin-Lift Wave.
The “I don’t want to take my hands off the wheel but want to greet you” Finger-Lift Wave.
The “You are welcome to pass my slow farm vehicle” Wave.
The “I’m sorry I was just a dork for cutting you off/getting in your way” Wave.
I possibly overuse this wave and therefore often receive back…
The “Never mind, it is ok that you are a dork” Wave.
The “Hello fellow truck owner” Wave (hubbys favorite)
The “I won’t smile at you but will still acknowledge you exist” Wave (my visiting Mom’s Fave).
And the truly unique, from my elderly pedestrian neighbor…
The “I am too involved in what I am doing to look up at you but here is my hand” Wave.
To which I always respond with…
The “I know you can’t see it but I will reciprocate anyway” Wave.
I love them all. Who knew such a small thing could speak volumes when silenced. There are many things in life I can definitely live without – coffee a 2nd cup of coffee, an ab six-pack, shoulder pads, another social network, Journey to the Center of the Earth Part 3.
But The Wave? No, I know now, I need The Wave.
In fact, I deserve The Wave.
And so do you.
So, if you are ever out Mid-West way, look for me. I’ll be the one giving you
The “Nice to see you ‘round these parts” Wave.
I love the Midwest just for its Wave. 🙂
Yes!! It is definitely a free perk!
Yes…I also like the ‘nod’ on the street.
ah yes, the nod, that is a good one too!
I grew up in the midwest and now call LA and NYC my home and I agree, the wave is a lost art form. Glad to see that you were able to discover it. But I am sad to hear that you can live without shoulder pads and Journey to the Center of the Earth 3. I like to wear them and repeatedly watch Journey part 3 over and over again;)
Well, some things have to go eventually! LOL!
Fine I’ll ditch Journey but I’m keeping the pads:)
LOL
I grew up in Ohio and I love how friendly ppl are, and I’ve missed their prolific wave game since moving out West. btw I think it’s mid-westerners
Yes – it is “mid-westerners”, I was just being ‘creative’ ha! People are very friendly in the mid-west, and they like their weapons!lol
date your true love.
best wishes to you !
Thank you for visiting!
I live in Wisconsin and the Wave is pretty prolific here. I have to admit that I’m not a big Wave-er, but I’m getting better. I just forget or feel silly or something.
I’ll let you in on a secret- drive a Jeep Wrangler. We all wave to each other. Or, used to, come to think of it, that’s disappearing a bit too!
I knew there was a reason I always wanted a jeep!!!
not much waving going on in the northeast. i wave “thanks” when someone lets me in traffic-wise, but…i don’t think the northeast is nearly as friendly was the midwest…
aaah, well, come here and I will wave to you…maybe even throw you some beads!
Thanks for mentioning my favorite wave. I often tell my California friends about the “no smile wave”. At least you know that you were noticed. Now if we can just get a little grin too, it would be perfect!
You are welcome! Come visit more often, I am sure you would get a smile.
I LOVE this and totally agree with this post–*as I’m clapping AND waving* lol
Yeah!! Thank you. *clapping and waving back*
Haha!! All of these waves are cracking me up! Love the fellow truck owner wave. We all DO deserve the wave!
Yes, the “fellow truck driver wave” was one of the first ones I noticed when we moved here. I kept wondering how my husband knew all those guys in trucks…ha!
We are not in the midwest but we have many of those waves around here too. My father is a pro at the “i’m way to cool to move my head or acknowledge you with my face but i’ll lift one finger off the wheel as we pass” . you forgot the global “for christ’s sake, would you just get going?” wave. waving at you from finding the funny.
Ha – yes, forgot that one! Thanks for stopping by!
As a life-long-mid-westerner I know the wave and/or waves! The wave is a part of our daily existence. Cut off our hands and we can not communicate. That would be too sad.
True, so true!
Love it, here comes the Texas wave 😉
Yeah! Thank you Texas!
I lived in Wisconsin for a couple of years, and you’re spot on! Congrats for FP. Loved the post! -MoSop
🙂
I bet Wisconsin has even some of their own waves!
Surprisingly, NorCal has a pretty good amount of the Wave. I like seeing it when letting people in even when I’m seething at their idiocy. It makes me feel a little better. I also try to do the wave as much as possible. 🙂 That is sad that New Orleans is completely void of it.
Congrats on Freshly Pressed!
The wave can cure a lot of road rage! In New Orleans, well, it is just to humid to have road rage – or wave!
You’ve been Fresh Pressed… and for some reason the WordPress staff dug over a month back in time to do it!
Anyhow… New Orleans… it’s New Orleans. I’m not surprised. Now, were you to be a bit outside of that city and you’d probably have gotten a wave, though more likely two fingers lifted off the steering wheel.
I live in the midwest. I don’t see many waves, though I also live in the burbs. Country folk seem a bit friendlier in general.
Yes, being Fresh Pressed on this post surprised me, but in a good way! Thanks for reading. You are probably right about outside the city in New Orleans!
It feels really good when I get it from pedestrians too whenever I let them cross.
Yes, definitely!
Look the wave is good and you are so right. Its a bit of a lost courtesy in today’s world. I try and make a point of giving the thank you wave in traffic.
And then I have my other days…
I have to confess that this morning my wave came with a swear word, or was it a string of them, to the impatient driver who careered out of a driveway and almost cleaned me up. I gave her a wave whilst swearing furiously and comparing her to a well known farmyard animal. I know its not very grown up of me but it was quite satisfying at the same time!
haha- well, sometimes those kind of waves are warranted! It sounds like you had one of those moments!
That is absolutely hilarious–and highly original! You know, you could write a humor book with each type of wave on each page, with a cartoon illustration! Seriously! I once had two books like that, “The Fart Book” and “The Shit List”, and they were very popular!
Wow, thank you for the compliment – and the idea! I will have to turn that over in my head!
I don’t know if I agree with “not much waving going on in the Northeast..” we wave in Maine…especially on the islands, where there aren’t that many cars or people…figure we must know the people or soon will! Great post! Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
I believe that about the Northeast and small places really inspire “The Wave”.
NIce Images.
http://www.seawindsolution.com
Thank you!
Hello people with waves, very interesting website! I’m bringing the Washington wave lol
Right on! And, Thankyou!
So nice,here a wave from Slovenia!
Thank you! “waves” back!
hilarious! hope you’ll get to see an Asian wave soon! 🙂
Wow – yes, me too!
I loved this post! Here’s a “Have a great day” wave from Vancouver, BC.
Thank you so much! “Waves back”
awesome post!! it made my day!! 🙂
Thank you! That, makes my day!
Such a sweet little post understated but so poignant. I came across this though Freshly Pressed and I love it.
Thank you for the compliment and for stopping by!
‘The Wave’ doesn’t exist in India…or if it does, it is hardly seen. I have tried the wave to thank cars moving out of the way, or to let the pedestrians walk by, but it usually has no effect. Either they don’t understand the ‘wave’ language or maybe I’ve got it all wrong!
Anyways, will keep waving!
Interesting! I love to travel and see how people and their customs are different all over the world!
Well…you are more than welcome to come to India and drive! But yes, point a camera, and the children go crazy waving!
I am from the UK where we also have the waves you describe so inventively! I have noticed in the last few years though that some drivers have been using the “wink” (brief flashing of hazard lights) interchangeably with the wave..an interesting development. This is particularly useful on the motorway/highway. Do you have that out in the mid-West?
Thanks for this cheery and observant post! *waves*
Yes! It is common to flash your lights at big semi trucks to let them know they can move into your lane and then for them to flash lights back as a thank you – or visa versa.
haha, totally! we should wave more!!
I agree!
Next move should be to England, them Brits are great wavers!
Right on! Sounds like a great idea!
In the Netherlands, where we have more bikes than cars (more bikes than people, even!), all of the above waves apply, too. (:
Bikes and waves – I had not thought of that but it makes complete sense! Thanks for reading!
Reblogged this on 8BIT.
Thank you for that!
I love the different waves and know many of them to be true. I live near Lake Erie in Ontario, and have visited Pelee Island, where all the residents on the island wave at whoever passes by. I think this is so charming, but I do fear for their safety sometimes–as they wave no matter what.
Love it!
The best part I liked about this post is the middle finger thing… hahaha!
Well, I am glad I could make you laugh!!
Yeah, I like The Wave too. Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you and thanks for stopping by!
Nice Post
Thank you very much!
This is so great! Thanks for your post.
Thank you for stopping by!
The wave is alive and well in New England too, was quite surprised to hear that there’s anywhere it doesn’t exist. The only time I haven’t gotten one it’s safe to assume the other driver is some sort of Scrooge or they’re *grrr* on a cellphone and just too oblivious to be on the road at all.
Yes, not having The Wave took me by surprise, too!
What about “the awkward I’m not sure if I’m supposed to wave so I’m reluctantly committing to this” Wave?
Sure! That wave is a good one too!
Great- the Wave is indeed great.
My favorite one is- “You’re being lunatic, so shut up” wave! 🙂
I am sure I get that wave often, too, but I just wave back!
That’s the spirit! 🙂
Lovely post indeed! Have a good day!
You are lucky to get waves in the States, here in India you’ll be lucky if you could just make your way through.
Yes! I have heard that., Well, if you ever make it stateside, feel free to wave away!
I lived down in Roanoke Virginia during my college years, and they are masters of the wave down there. I love the finger lift on gravel country roads. I brought the wave back to Baltimore, Maryland–couldn’t conceive of life without it, and some people actually wave back. Here on the East Coast we have the “You are a pedestrian and therefore have the right of way but hurry up before I change my mind” wave. It’s reassuring knowing that you won’t be hit by a car when you cross the street.
Ha! I love that one!
People should wave more. The Dutch aren’t much of a waver, but despite that, I’m going to wave more.
Right on!
True, there’s not much waving going on in the Northeast, but in my particular town we are big wavers, and I try to be especially generous with my wave, especially the “go ahead, I’m in no hurry” wave.
Love it! I think it makes my day and the other drivers day to be generous with the wave!
Hi – larious! And yes! Put you hand up other driving person! It takes less than a second!
I completely agree!
Loved this post! I’m in Canada – East Coast specifically and we are all about the wave! If you ever see two people waving frantically at each other with big smiles on their faces, they just might be Canadians. We get really excited when we see a familiar license plate, and of course we send along a great “fancy running into you in this foreign land, isn’t it exotic?!” Wave 🙂
Perfect! I will keep my eyes open for just such an occurrence!
Giving a smile to those you encounter is much the same. Some can reciprocate, others don’t. Just keep doing it. The world needs the wave and a big smile too.
I agree, the world needs the wave! Thank you for reading.
Oh, and to think I “liked” back before you were PRESSED! Congrats and HOW FUN! My elbow hurts from waving in North Carolina. I am from Michigan…not the nice part…and you stood a better chance of getting the middle finger.
ha! In New Orleans you never got the wave, but you never got the finger either!
It was a fantastic read. Great article . Here’s wasve from us. ~
Wow! Thank you!
they’re not called amber waves for nothing….
Being a midwesterner my entire life, my favorite wave is the:
“I’m really frustrated that everyone is yielding in this four-way stop but please YOU go first” wave.
hahaha! Yes, a four way stop in the mid-west can be a melee of waves!!
Personally, I love the wave! HUGE fan – I use it ALL the time even though I never get it back! Which, you’d think since the south has the whole “southern hospitality” rep that we’d be big wavers, but not where I am! I knew I always wanted to live in the mid-west for a good reason!! 🙂
Well, keep waving – maybe you can start a trend!
funny, and easy to relate to where i live!
Yes! Thank you for reading!
Never been to the midwest but I lived in the south plenty. Some wave, some will chase you down like a dog, some will give you the finger, some will just ignore. I have been to New Orleans once but don’t remember much about the traffic. I remember getting lost in the 9th ward pre-katrina though…
I am just glad you made it out of the 9th ward alive!
lol yeah that was a very scary place. They were do drug deals on the street in broad daylight. I had never seen anything quite like it
Mid-Westians–ha! I love it! I have recently returned to the Midwest after a long absence and it has taken me some time to get used to the wave. I had forgotten such overt displays of friendliness. My time in Ohio beat it out of me. 🙂
That is too bad about Ohio, but you will get the hang of it again!
Midwestern girl here…we even wave when passing each other in the hallway at work. It’s a low, not-lifting-my-arm wave. Kinda like a secret wave. And we have one guy who is awesome with his head-nod waves. Just makes ya smile!
It does make you smile! And, doesn’t it just make your day all that much better!
Hi from CO!
“wave”
We moved from central California to rural south-west Montana about 6 years ago. I’ll never forget driving around Madison County in a pickup with our realtor, searching for the perfect piece of property (land on a river or a log house with a creek and trees around it) on which to retire. I thought our realtor must know every single person in the state, because he waved at all the passing vehicles. It was that, “I don’t wanna take my hands off the steering wheel, but I’ll lift my fingers” kind of wave. After one such wave – reciprocated by the old fellow we passed, I asked him, “Who was that?” He said, “I don’t know.” So I asked him, “Why’d ya wave?” And he simply replied, “That’s what we do!” Yup, it is! I’m with you, I NEED – yes, I DESERVE the wave. I love it! I’ll be lookin’ for ya, Sweetspot!!
Funny! Yes, I can just see that. When we first moved here I thought my husband was so very popular!
Hahaha I am from Chicago, and I must say, you’re spot on. I will wait expectantly for a wave when I let someone into heavy traffic, and I will complain to whoever’s in the car if that wave doesn’t come. A particular favorite midwestern wave is when a driver waves across a pedestrian, coupled with the mouthing of the words: “Go ahead!” It’s like at the public pool when you waited atop the slide, and the lifeguard told you it was your turn. Great post, and congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you! I love the slide analogy! It does feel like that. I find that the more the wave is used, the more generous people become!
Body language/non-verbal communication is a bit of pet interest of mine; I don’t I’ve come across any references in the literature that are quite so amusingly break down the different kinds of driver waves. Great fun; thanks for the cool read.
You are welcome and thank you for the compliment and observation!
I live in England, in the North of England you will get yourself a lot of lovely waves, but down South you certainly won’t get that luxury. I am a cyclist and most of the waves I get are the “you’re lucky it’s raining out there otherwise you’d have a broken nose by now” clenched fist waves.
PS nice blog post….
Funny! Thanks for stopping by and reading – don’t break your nose, that sounds painful!
Haha…I get the “I’m Even Cooler Chin-Lift Wave” a lot in Orange County, CA! I’m sending you the “Thank You” wave for creating such a fun post! 🙂
ooo – I love that wave! Thank you!
This is so true! In the south, you wave at people you don’t even know. You’re reminded me to do more waving.
Charlie 😀
http://www.charliemccoin.wordpress.com
Great! The more waves the better!
Good post! I am from the Midwest where people do actually wave and I love it. I get even more annoyed though when people don’t return “the smile”. Especially in the office where I work everyday. I mean, how hard is it to smile back at someone? You’re going to see them again tomorrow! Jeeze. And isn’t there a saying about it taking less muscles to smile then it does to frown? Duh!
I completely agree! Smiling makes you look younger and feel good – a win win all the way around!
I know what you mean. I’m from the panhandle of TX and the wave is normal up there. So much so, that if you don’t wave they know your an out-of-towner. 🙂 I’m in the DFW area now and there is no longer any evidence of the wave. It’s a very sad thing. 😦 Enjoyed your post. 🙂
That is a sad thing! Thanks for reading!
Very cute! I lived in the Midwest for a few years, so I know of what you speak.
Yes! It was a refreshing change!
Die Welle! 😀
Danke!
WE should become the “laaaaaaaand of the free, and the hoooooooome of. the. waaaaaaave!” Loved it!
That is perfect! Now, why didn’t I think of that! Lol!
Feel free to use it any time! Words are not expensive, for you the price is a wave. 😉 ~Dan
I always do the wave and the head nod and the mouthing thank you … just what you should be doing to give that little bit of love
Exactly!!
Haha Like this
Thank you
Hilarious, and pretty true I’d say! I live in the Canadian prairies which from what I understand are fairly similar (although not entirely) to the US midwest. In the bigger cities the wave is not generally practiced, mostly likely because people are paranoid and distrustful and I would imagine this is a good explanation for why the wave is declining elsewhere, however out in the country if you don’t wave to everyone as you pass them in your vehicles, when you see them in “town”, etc. you might as well be some sort of serial killer because in the smaller rural communities the wave is king 😉
True, so true!!
very very nice.
Thanks!’Wave’
You are so right. We do love our waves in the Midwest. And here is one for you.
aaah – thank you!!
GREAT POST. CONGRATS ON BEING FP!
I grew up in rural IA where the wave was a necessity. Now in Chicago, I still get it on some occasions. But I try to frequently offer it if the situation dictates it. Thanks for your fun post.
Hey, thanks for reading!!
Ah, yes. I’m from rural Australia and am I’m familiar with a lot of these. Waves are a pleasant part of the social fabric.
I am happy to know Australia uses The Wave, too!!
You are forgetting the best wave of all – The Jeep Wave!! It is a very intimate wave, a sign of mutual understanding. I am pretty sure there might be historical data to imply that this is actually where the wave originated…
Ah yes, of course! Thanks for adding that wave!
You should come to Canada. We’re wave level: Ninja, up here! I can’t believe how thorough your list was…and hilarious. Nice post.
I have heard that about Canada! Right on!
We visited The States for a year when I was a kid (back in the early 80’s) and I remember driving through Woodward OK, and being AMAZED at the fact that the elderly gent that we were with, who was behind the wheel just kept his hand on top of the steering -wheel in a constant ‘state of wave’ as were all the other drives in the town. An abiding memory that helps me wave more! Lovely post.
Great memory! And, thank you!
It is true. And when a stranger gives even a smile it refreshes the mood. Once after being rejected in a job interview I came back sullen and a little girl of 7 greeted me “Hello Uncle”. It made me smile and made me forget the pain. I am just 22 but only I did is smiled and greeted her back. Small things can do miracles. A Wave(Samsung Wave even :-P), a smile, a chocolate given away to a kid whom you don’t know but you know you can’t see him crying. The Art of Giving gives us back the most dulcet moments of our life!
That is a beautiful story – thank you for sharing it!
Thank You! It is a very good blog. Read my blog if you get time. I just started the blog. I am an amateur. So tell me how to improve as well if you get time. Thanks!
I will stop by for sure! Just write from your heart, that is a good place to start!
Yes thank you. I tried the same. I will read more books so that I can improve. Thank You.
http://tatapraveen.wordpress.com/
This is my blog site. 3rd one is the one which is a bit important to me.
Thank You.
I am not good with smileys so I couldn’t wave back in the end. But I can make the most basic one 🙂 and will write WAVE for a wave. Hope you get myriads of happiness waves in your life. TATA!
Waves back at ya!
Nice post! Spot on. Although I can’t wave, so don’t expect any from me. Usually I buzz at people. That’s my way of showing acknowledgement.
Ha! I am sure that works too!
Absolutely love this post!!! The wave is a too-often-forgotten and yet much-needed part of one’s life! 😉 Nicely done.
Why, thank you! And, I completely agree!
Every spring, out here in California you can find me giving the “sorry I can’t see where I’m going due to allergies” wave.
Ah yes, I am familiar with that one!
Yeah, I turn into Swamp Thing from April to June. Thanks genes!
Wow! Great!
Thanks much!
Here is a big, ‘Watch out for the elk on the next curve’ Wave coming at you from Colorado!
Right on! lol!
Being acknowledged by drivers or pedestrians is always a nice thing. In my country, we beep our horns as well as do the wave. Hope that you can start that wave going soon!
Nice! Here when you beep at someone it is considered more rude than friendly most of the time..
Good to know – thanks! Lol.
I am a BIG fan of the wave (in the UK) and will often wave very enthusiastically if I see anyone waving near me, even if not at me. May I also suggest the clap as an addition – especially in the context of dance moves…
ah yes! The clap is good, too!
As a cyclist and pedestrian, my usual wave is the “thanks for letting me cross the street” wave (in answer to the “go on, cross” wave).
On the rare occasions when I do drive, I’m concentrating too hard on driving to remember to wave, even though my mother kept reminding me to wave.
Well, sometimes driving takes alot of attention, so that is good!
Cool Blog! 🙂
Thanks!
LookingForTheSweetSpot, I am Waving at You with My Both Hands, with Much Success in Everything You Do kind of Wave! Aloha from NY!
Woo Hoo – Thank you!
The pleasure is all mine:-)
That was a phenomenal post. Now I’m going to have to see how many different types of Waves I get here in Pittsburgh. I can think of the following:
“Go ahead in front of me” wave
“Thanks for letting me in front” wave
“Hey I’m going to cut in front of you from this exit and I appreciate you slamming on your brakes rather than hitting me” wave
“I’m going to wave a couple of times because I’m unsure if I just did you wrong” wave
As you can see, they’re not so much friendly at times but still appreciated haha.
I love them all – especially the please don’t hit me wave!
Gotta love the Midwest! My favorite thing about driving there when I went to college in a small town was the Four-Way-Stop-Dilemma. In case you haven’t encountered it, the FWSD occurrs when two or more cars pull up to an intersection. Because they are all Midwesterners, no one wants to be “rude” enough to go first, so they all wave to each other, “after you” “no, after you” “no, no, after you”. They can be stuck there forever that way….
A similar phenomenon can be seen at the Midwestern pot-luck. No on wants to take the last piece of something, so they take half of the last piece. The next person takes half of that. And the person after that takes half of that, until eventually the remaining crumb is too small to be seen.
Sometimes that kind of hyper-politeness would get on my nerves, but I miss it since moving to the East Coast.
oh my gosh – yes!! Mid-Westerners are the most polite drivers! I have experienced that exact scenario.
I’m kinda surprised that you didn’t get the wave in the Big Easy, since that’s about as Deep South as you can get. That said, I have seen only four waves where the central finger was not advanced.
There’s the “Go ahead, you got here first” wave, which usually comes before
the “Thanks for letting me go first”
the “Hey, I see your turn signal in traffic and I give you my blessing to get in front of me” wave, which precedes the
“Hey, thanks for letting me cut in” wave.
Thanks for waving, so I’ll wave back 🙂
Those are all good waves! I know, it is surprising about New Orleans, but true!
I also miss the midwest! Every one is friendly, not like here in upstate NY.
Well, come for a visit anytime! We will wave at you!
i really enjoyed this well written post. It’s very clever. The weather is pretty warm now, and I’ve been thinking about buying a motorcycle. There is one very big reason–the biker wave! You won’t get one if you’re driving a car (cage). You only get one (a wave) if you’re riding a motorcycle and you meet another biker going the opposite direction. Harley riders usually take their left hand off the handlebars and extend their hand downward with two fingers out. It is very important that you have two fingers outward and not one–LOL! The biker wave is a little perk that is not normally extended to people driving an automobile. I’m ready to plunk down $13,000 for a small Harley so that I can be treated to the biker wave–ha! Who says you can’t buy happiness?
Aaah – the biker wave! Now, that is an exclusive one – kinda of like the fellow trucker wave!
The title grabbed me because I love the wave. I have been in NC for 30 yrs- the wave lives . I spent 25 yrs further out in the country where everyone that went by waved. Now around town I get a wave or a head nod frequently. Wave more- text less while driving.
Yes! Text less, wave more – I like it!
You’ve made me glad today that I live in the Midwest…and I think it’s time to bring back the shoulder pads. I’m missing them.
haha! Well, count me out on the shoulder pads!
I’m from the suburbs of NY–people wave a lot around where I’m from (not NYC mind you). But then I moved to Madrid, Spain for 2 years and I used to wave at cars for letting me cross streets–being the polite pedestrian expressing my gratitude. It turns out nobody waves to cars that stop for you here haha–cars are much better at stopping at crosswalks than in the US and it is expected. Therefore no need to wave for something drivers should be doing! There are so many differences between American and Spanish society–the no wave thing is just one of them.
Very interesting! I love getting to know how other cultures do things. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hey SweetSpot ~ Just found your Blog. And, BOYHOWDY!, am I ever happy I did. “The Wave” is terrific. You’ve got a great knack for painting a picture. Really fun! Off to read more of your stuff. Cheers!
Wow! Thank you for that!
I’m in the L.A. area and I appreciate the wave- I get totally irked when I don’t get the same respect. lol
Well, you know I agree with you!
As a lifelong Midwestian, I’m very impressed by your complete and accurate description of our waves! Thanks for the laughs, and for reminding me of one of the nice things about living here.
Thank you for the affirmation!
The Wave is almost extinct in Delaware. My neighbors don’t even do the “I see you walking a lot so I’ll wave” Wave. I then do the “I know you saw me so I’m going to smile really big and wave so that you have to wave back” Wave. I will single-handedly (so to speak) bring the wave back to Delaware. 😉 Thanks for a great post!
ha! You go girl, I am in full support!
What a lovely post. I love to give a wave and receive a wave. It is a great way to acknowledge people and also especially in the driving world a sing of appreciation. Basically a wave makes me feel good. Here in Melbourne the wave is still a happening thing, but thanks to your post I am a little more appreciative of it.
It does make you feel good, doesn’t it!
I grew up in Northern VA where only the snobby survive, I now reside in a town in WVA and I am so happy to be here 🙂 small country the way I like it 🙂 cjmurray34.wordpress.com
Sounds good to me too!
Hi! Even though NJ is a little State, we couldn’t be more different from our Northern fellow Jersians. I live in South Jersey and the drivers are much more polite and give you lots of “thank you” waves or “go ahead, make your turn” wave. Up North, they just love to honk their horns at you. Great blog!
Honking was popular in LA – I have to say, I like The Wave much better!
But there are days when I do get honked at, but as I drive I just honk back! There is a bit of a unspoken rule of how long and hard you honk at someone down here even. A quick honk is considered “polite, but impatient” and a “long and annoying’ honk means the person behind you is very, very upset! And if they continue to honk at you as they still are driving behind you (I’ve seen this), it just means they are psycho!!
Man, this is so great. It is just so cute everything about it. An entertaining read, good job!
Well, thank you very much! Thanks for reading!
Bus drivers where I’m from wave to each other all the time, even little kids playing in the street come out to wave at passengers on the bus, it’s nice just to get that little wave. I like what you’ve written, I found all the different types of waves very funny, I didn’t realize how much could be said with a wave.
Tons can be said in a wave! But, mostly, they just make you feel good!
Hello (waving at you with a smile 🙂 )!
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Things called waves don’t exist in my country at all. But i usually do it when i’m on my bike. I usually do the “thanks you are awesome” thumbs up to drivers of big slow trucks or buses when they make way to let me over take them.
Hey, that counts!!
I really miss the “wave” too. Used to get it all the time back when I was younger, but it seems that it’s a language long forgotten as people grow up. I still wave at people with those aforementioned waves above, regardless if I get them back. Occasionally, I do get replies… but they’re rare. I hope that more people pick up the “wave”.
Groovy post~
Well, here’s hoping it never dies out completely!
Seems to be a global phenomenon the dissapearing wave 😦 replaced by a single finger wave…
Yes, that is actually what I thought to, until I moved to the Mid-West!
I live in Wisconsin and I can fully agree with all of your different Midwest waves. I have seen/done/received every single one. Around my town, there’s also the “Oh hey you’re walking a dog but I’m in a car so sorry I can’t stop and chat” wave. Great post!
Now, that is one I forgot – although out in the country people don’t walk their dogs as much, it is more of a canine free for all. lol!
A wave of applause for such a wonderful post!
Thank you very much! ‘waves back’
Nice share i like your blogs articles 🙂
Thank you for stopping by for a visit!
Awesome thoughts…like them very much….
Thank you! “waves” of appreciation!
Here’s one for u – the “Hey, just dropped by and saying hi” Wave!! 🙂 Congratulations on being FP!
Right on! I like that one!
Haha this post made me day, seriously!
That is awesome!
Gosh! I totally agree with you, i love the wave 🙂 You write amazing!
Wow! Thank you so much!
I really enjoyed that. Now I’m giving you the ” I know you can’t see me but congrats on making it on Freshly Pressed” wave.
I like that wave!
Reblogged this on Jolene N, that's my name and commented:
Now that you’ve mentioned it …
Thanks for the reblog!
awesome job,really I can’t think about that…
Thanks for reading!
This is so great! I’m from the Midwest and live in LA and I miss all our waves! 🙂 btw the way to refer to someone from the Midwest is to call them a “Midwesterner”.
Thanks for reading – yes, I know the term is Mid-Westerner – I was just being creative!
I never knew that The Wave was so hard to find in other states! We’re always dishing out waves here in Ohio, haha.
Well, as the saying/song goes – you don’t know what ya got til its gone!
Hilarious list! How long did it take you to brainstorm all of those? (And congrats on the FP.)
Actually, not long – I just had to go through my experiences. Truthfully, I had more!
Ok, as an Australian, nay a Queenslander, here we are ALL about the Wave. There are way too many people who deny born and breds like myself of the Wave. People who are migrating into Queensland for our lifestyle and yet, refusing to acknowledge one of the key traits of being a QLDer. You can not move here and not adopt our ways.
I have to share also, that I used to own a VW Beetle and there was a special wave given to your fellow Beetle drivers. That used to be a special wave. 🙂
of course! The Beetle wave! Love it!
Congrats on being freshly pressed! Quite a roller coaster ride, isn’t it? (I got it a few weeks ago). Just mentally prepare yourself for the heroin-like withdrawals you will experience next week when your numbers go back to normal. 😉 I’m thinking about starting a support group to help ease people down from off their freshly pressed high and back into normal blog society.
As for the wave, I’m also a really big fan, and feel slighted when someone doesn’t use it with me. Here’s a NY version I’d like to toss into the mix….
The sarcastic wave – because the other person did something really stupid, but I’m going to wave anyway and while I’m doing it, I’m going to mumble a slew of expletives and insults without moving my lips.
That is funny! I had already thought about that – the fun can’t go on forever, but what a great ride!
Fun post …. so here’ a wave from Cincinnati!
Why thank you! “waves’ back!
So glad to know that you found wave heaven in the mid-west! Here in central Virginia, the wave is fairly rare, yet more often out in the country. In town, it usually involves the middle finger! I presume that both hands are used for texting! When will the US outlaw the use of cell phones while driving! This should be right up there with the drinking/driving alcohol ban. Congrats on FP! 😉
Yes, texting seriously compromises The Wave!
Oooooo, a catalogue of different waves. I’d hate to write them down, get charged with plagiarism, then get the “See ya’ later–now you’re going to jail” wave.
lol! No, that would be the wave you don’t want to see!
I moved to Colorado from Wisconsin and know what you are talking about. It is regional although it is a melting pot here and most acknowledge my wave.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you – and thanks for stopping by!
There is only one part of this post I disagree with: I do need my 2nd cup of coffee 😉
Ha! Yes, it would be a sacrifice for sure!!
Haha! I do not drive but this made me smile! I think this is the most widely used here in the Philippines, “The “I don’t want to take my hands off the wheel but want to greet you” Finger-Lift Wave.”
I enjoyed reading this post (seriously!) Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Thank you! I love the finger lift wave – it still counts for sure!
lol one way and so many different meanings. Body language and gestures are really un-explainable sometimes…the wave = I’m good 😀
Absolutely!
I live in the South now, and they are pretty big about the Wave here, too. At least in Knoxville, when you get into the more rural/residential parts, you find yourself being waved at all the time. I’ve caught the affinity for this cultural phenomenon and even brought it back up to NJ when I visited home. But, let me tell you, my Yankee kin are not so keen on the Wave.
Well, those Yankees need to get with The Wave program!
I live now in Toronto but was living in Vancouver before this. Vancouver, though few people know it, has no soul and people are by nature reserved and icy there. I was told once that in Vancouver, “you don’t wave, it makes you look ridiculous.” Needless to say I’m glad to be in a place where people are okay with the subtle gesture regardless of how they may come across. Thanks for posting!
It never bothers me, I just wave away! Thanks for your insights!
I LOVE your post! You have such a charming and beautiful way of writing about the wave, which, I agree, is so, so needed!
I live in Texas and I always wave when someone lets me in in from a merge lane, or when someone just lets me in line, but that’s the only wave I know of haha. I always get weird looks from other drivers when I give them the “Thank You” wave, and I don’t think I’ve ever received one in return, but I continue to give it because it’s polite darn it! 😛 I remember one of the only times I got a thank you wave for letting someone in it literally made my day. It was from a very sweet looking Southern Gentleman, and his wave was very…gentlemanly. haha, I can’t think of how else to describe it.
The wave is necessary! I’m sure it would reduce road rage by at least 97% if we all participated in the wave game. Especially if our waves conveyed such elaborate emotions as the ones you’ve listed 😛
I agree with that! The wave would be a good cure for road rage!
Reblogged this on Aspiring Drummer and commented:
This is such a charming post. Absolutely loved it so had to share it 🙂
Thank you for the reblog!
The South is big on waving, too. I wasn’t a big waver when I first moved here, but I’ve adopted it as part of being a good neighbor and a decent human being.
It is catching!
Here’s the “I liked your blog post” WAVE!!
Woo Hoo, that is a good one!
… and if you’re a biker … it’s the 2-fingered-arm-extended-at-an-angle-to-your-side wave to a passing biker. How cool you feel about yourself (and your bike) determines if the angle is at 20, 30, or 45 degrees from the side of your bike. Welcome to the friendly Mid-West!
I had no idea the biker wave was so intricate!
True story!
Yes, it was for me!
Ahh, The Wave. Thank you for your lovely post. It’s bringing me back to my teenage years out in the country, in the Ottawa Valley, Canada. There everyone waved to each other as they passed on country roads. It was the ” you live here in the valley too, eh?” wave. Loved it.
Yes, the wave definitely makes you feel like you belong!
Loved this!!! I don’t live in the midwest. I live in Oklahoma and most of these waves you mentioned are common here. We have waves for everything. Loved this.
yes! I bet many of them are the same!
such a warming post and so true! the wave is for sure underutilized in most places which is a shame because it’s such a great thing that is sure to put a smile on anyone’s face
I agree, it is something that makes you feel like part of a community!
I feel the exact same way when you go out of your way to hold a door for someone and they don’t even acknowledge you. Like I’m there personal door opener or something, I always want to yell “YOU’RE WELCOME!!!!” jerks!
Nice post =)
haha – me too – but I resist, most of the time. I might, however, mutter it to myself!
Cute! I feel sad that you live in a place with no wave! I am familiar with, and participate in, many of the above mentioned waves, and I’ve never lived in the mid-west. So I promise they exist elsewhere! That being said….I may be moving to the midwest in about a year, so maybe I should start brushing up on some new ones! 😉
oh yes! You will need them in the Mid-West for sure!
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Lovely,sweet,funny post…I agree with everything you said! I think the real essence of the driver wave is really just about acknowledging each others humanity. It’s really saying ‘hey you,how’s it going? We’re all in this thing together (life!) so just know,you’re not alone.’ I live in Ireland and we do the driver wave a lot here,but I still feel mortified when I wave and don’t receive a wave back. So,for that reason,I’ve ‘invented’-or thought I had until now!!-the finger ‘wave.’ It goes like this…when driving past cool people whom I believe probably don’t even realise I exist,raise a finger from the steering wheel as nonchalently as possible. Accompany this with a kind of half nod of the head,and a weird head turn,and the manouvere is complete. This method-or so I’ve assured myself!- means that I don’t appear to be a sad loser when caught waving at those-who-will-never-in-a-million-years-wave-back-even-if-I-waved-a-white-blanket-in-front-of-their-windscreens-with-the-words-‘WAVE AT ME PLEAAASSSSSEEEEEE!’-written-with-BLACK-PAINT-on-it……..!!!!!!! The finger wave and the weird head thingy means that I could actually just be beating to the rhythm of some cool tunes on the cd player…..
haha – very clever! I like it!
Awesome. Love this. I lived in mid-west and now in New England — and I miss each and every one of those waves! Cheers — oh yeah, and a wave!
Waves back!
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Thanks for the link!
Love this. Born, raised, and still living in Ohio and I am proud to be a waver. I am sure in the coming days I will be analyzing all my waves. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
You should have fun with that! Thanks for stopping by!
Love your post!
Moved from Phoenix to Prescott which is a townish-like city and I love getting the wave. I noticed that I started doing the wave more frequently
It is contagious!
“I believe it” wave…Have a great day!
I’m a waver from way back…
Good, I am glad to know The Wave is hanging on!
I just started using the “Thanks for not honking at me even though I deserve it” Wave and it seems to be working out well!
Yes, I love that one. I use it frequently!
The “Comment” Wave 🙂
Nice!
Waves are important to the infrastructure of society! I am a runner and when I pass another runner I give a little “nice to see another runner wave.” or a “I am hurting right now but want to say hi” wave or even a “you a doing great” wave. Can you believe sometimes runners don’t even wave back!!???
No, I can’t believe that! You just keep on waving, you will convert a few, I am sure!
Not enough has been written about the wave. Now that I think of it, I can’t remember ever reading any sort of scholarly discourse on the wave!
Well, now there is at least one! But, I think ‘scholarly’ might be reaching – lol!
Hah, maybe, but it’s “the” literature on the subject now!
Well, I can live with that!
here’s a WAVE from the thumb of Michigan Loved your post and am here to tell you I try to wave but half the time I am too late as the person that passed by me is already gone.I guess I am a post waver.
Ha! Better a post waver than a non waver!
I love the wave. Even in the midwest, it seems that fewer people dole out “the wave.” Not waving is, frankly, quite rude.
I would have to agree with you there!
Oh, this is charmingly hilarious!
I’m from the Eastern Cape in South Africa and we have very specific etiquette when overtaking – something I loved but didn’t realise I NEEDED until I moved to Johannesburg for a spell. Of course, now I live in Scotland and get to take the bus 🙂
Great post, thanks for the big grin!
Thank you! It has been so fun hearing from people in other countries and other parts of the USA and learning about their cultures and habits!
I love this. Makes me remember how just plain old being nice to people still exists in some parts of the world. Drivers in Dubai definitely do NOT do the wave! Unless it’s the ‘yallah, get out of my way’ wave…in which case we are the experts 😉
Funny! Well, at least there is some acknowledgement!
I’m always giving people the “I’d raise my hand to wave but am too busy scratching my genitals” wave
hahaha! Well, I am hoping I have never gotten that one but one can never know for sure!
Great I like ^^