5/14/08

This still tickles me!

The first time I came here to visit the Hubster, I was most impressed by the endless number of friends he passed whilst we were out driving around!

Everywhere we went it seemed other drivers were waving to him most of the time and he'd usually wave back. I was forever asking him "who was that?". What really bemused me was sometimes he didn't have a clue, it seems out here in NW rural Okieland people just wave to each other for the heck of it! LOL

I can honestly say (and I'm pretty well travelled), this is the friendliest place I have ever lived. People are just mostly 'nice' and along with that comes a ready smile and a wave. I can't tell you how refreshing that is after coming from outer London, where you're more likely to get a fist shaken at you, or the finger, than a friendly wave!

These days I am a 'waver' too, I have learned you don't need to know them, it's just a polite acknowledgement of someone elses's existence. It's not always a big 'in yer face' whole hand wave, most of the time it's just a finger raised as you pass - in a friendly manner!

Interestingly my wave % has gone up since I put my British flag tag plate on my Pickup. I guess now they can go home and say they waved to 'a Brit' just down the road today and have some fun with it!

So is this a national thing, or do they wave where you are?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

My experience has been that this happens around the country, at least in the areas I've lived and visited. The likelihood and frequency of this type of waving increases dramatically the further away from major population centers you get — i.e. the more rural the location, the exponential increase in frequency in waving.

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I grew up in a rural area/small town and this is normal behavior. I've lived in a metropolitan area for the past 25 years and it's more like outer London. In fact, it's probably a good idea not to wave anything at other drivers in the city!!!

Linda Jennings said...

Interesting observation...I used to believe it was a southern thing, but maybe it is a rural or small community thing. We do a lot of waving around this part of KY.

Janet said...

That was the first thing I noticed when we drove through the panhandle on our way over here.

Because we were travelling in 2 cars, Mick got on the radio and said, "Is it my imagination, or do people keep waving at us?"

The only waves I ever got in California were of the one fingered variety.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Things like this are the reasons I enjoy visiting America... like you say people aren't so friendly near London!

I always try and smile, make conversation but it's not so easy on the London Underground sometimes!!!

Victoria x

Vickie said...

Yep, I'm a waver, too. At least when I go home to Kansas. Rural Colorado is wave friendly, but not so much in the 'burbs of Boulder/Denver.
It's a test my sister and I do to see the friendly level of an area. Getting ready to test it in rural Virginia the next few days.

Stacy at Exceedingly Mundane said...

I also used to think this was a "southern thing". But I think it probably is a rural, not urban area, kind of thing. We're big wavers, my husband and I, and when we go to his parents (out in the country, very rural), we wave at pretty much everyone we pass, and everyone else waves at us. I did the same thing for a short time, would ask my hubby "who was that" and half the time he said, "I dunno!" :)

Great post!

Expat mum said...

Never seen the wave thing in Dallas or Chicago. When we were first married, in Dallas, I used to wonder why so many young babes said hi to my husband, but then realized everyone was doing it.
In Chicago it's "Hi, how are you?" and they walk past without waiting for a reply. I used to say "Fine, thank you" but have greadually realized you're supposed to reciprocate the question with a "Fine, thanks how are you?", even though that person may now be out of sight.

Its Just Me - Daring to Dream said...

My mother was born and raised in rural Tennessee. We'd go to visit my grandfather as kids and our 2 hour drive there from the city was covered with strangers waiving. We'd just wave back. My sisters and I made a game out of it to see who could get the most waves.

You are blessed to have such kindness where you live. I used to think all rural areas had kind people with a slower pace of life for respite.

I'm thrilled that you landed in a good spot. Congrats.

Sherri said...

Sarah, that is so funny that's what happened to me when I moved down South! In NJ if you waved at someone they would say, "what are you looking at" or they would turn their head like they didn't see you!! I love it! Whenever any of our family comes down from up North they always say how do you know all these people you've only lived her 4 yrs. and you work! I'm just glad there are friendly people still in this crazy world!!! Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

Where I'm from (KY) it was common practice to wave at everyone. Here in OHIO not so much. I got some awful weird stares at first but I think I'm growin' on 'em...LOL!☺

Sandi McBride said...

My kids used to ask us the same thing and most of the time we just said "a neighbor"...lol...so glad our folk are being kind to you...your folk were always so kind to us when we lived in Beaconsfield (Bucks)
Sandi

Pam said...

you wave in the car (or your case truck) just because you cross paths. especially you give the courtesy wave if someone lets you cut in line in front of them.

BUT i have noticed this same thing on very back lanes in rural England when the road is so narrow you have to back up 1/4 mile into a layby to let someone else pass ... courtesy waves all around there ....

Pam said...

oh, and i wave to people from the top of tourist buses in england and also last year in Nice, France. I was determined to get someone to wave back. Eventually I succeeded!

Tess Kincaid said...

I think maybe it is a rural thing. WT visited his parents in Kansas City recently and mentioned that he had forgotten how nice everyone is out in the country.

See ya later! (wave)

Unknown said...

Sandi - what a small world this is, I have an Aunt who has lived in Beaconsfield my whole life just about. My mum & gran live 20 mins from there and I did too for many years :-)

*WAVING TO EVERYBODY*

Mmm said...

Yes, they wave here but not nearly as much as OK. I loved how in OK they are so friendly. It really is one of the most friendly places I've ever been to as well. I loved it for that.

I have to say I tend to wave or otherwise acknowledge those I pass in my car and so on. Back home in London, as you said, it's another story altogether isn't it? Actually, on the whole, people wave a fair bit in Norfolk too come to think of it but nowhere has Oklahoma beat!

Rhea said...

People wave a lot here in Texas too.

Summer is very pretty and light looking, perfect for this hot season.

Sixs and sevens is a funny phrase. I remember hearing that one in one of the Austin Powers' movies.acnwl

Janet said...

People wave in our Oxfordshire village, too -- especially when we're giving way to each other on a not-so-wide roadway. I love it. Reminds me of Oklahoma, as a kid.

Janet