chuck machinist

Well-known Member
One thing I miss about Northern Illinois is the Wave. An unconscious act taught to me by my father. Currently living in the Southeast,I find that I have a hard time conducting said act. Since I started driving the 411 to the local convenience for Barley Pop runs ,the wave technic is coming back to me. You firmly grasp the steering wheel,then you raise all fingers keeping the thumb and palm firmly planted to the steering wheel.
Once ,as my wife and I were traveling through smallville, I turned a few waves loose. My wife asked me who that was. Don't know, just felt like waving. See you on the road! I' be the one waving. Chuck
 
I've gotten yelled at before for not waving back at people, because I can't keep track of their new vehicles every year or so. I just gave up and wave at everybody now, its easier this way.
 
I started waiving a people driving by the house when I was grilling just to see if they would wave back. Now I have people waving and don,t have the faintest idea who they are.
 
In Stearns county one finger raised up constitutes a legitimate wave. Years back when we traveled to town a lot less I think we appreciated meeting our fellow travelers a lot more. We probably recognized more of the vehicles as locals. One thing that I have noticed is it's harder to tell who is in the seat the way the vehicles are built. Currently there is a flurry of white Chevys and with the way the windshield slopes and reflects the light I'm not always sure who is in the seat. Alot of times I get grief for a missed wave.
 
Probably depends on your location. Here in Central KS I most always wave at oncoming cars, whether I know them or not.

That sometimes carries on to when I am at other locations. I was in the mountains of Colorado this past week and would catch myself waving at someone I would meet. My wife got the biggest kick out of me waving and the people I waved at either not even noticing, or looking at me like who the heck are you!! Bob
 
There needs to be a book written about wave etiquette. There are so many situations and it is hard to know what is proper for each one. Like of course you wave at the neighbor when you go by his place, but when you come back by ten minutes later do you wave differently? And if you go by repeatedly as in hauling loads of corn by his place what is the proper wave? And is it different if you are hauling manure by his place than if you are hauling corn (especially if there is a little "spill" occasionally)? And is it ok to wave if he has two buckets of feed in his hands? Or if he is coming to the end of a pass with his planter and you know he has to run the throttle, the power shift, the sprayer control, two or three hydraulic levers, and the steering wheel all at the same time? Because if you wave at him he will feel obligated to wave back. And then are you obligated to help him get his planter marker out of the fence? Also is it proper to wave if you have a brand new pickup? Isn't that sort of bragging? Maybe you should wait till the third or fourth time you go by. What a dilemma. Like I said, there should be a book. ADB
 
ADB, Those are all very valid points. Would the neighbor wave back differently than his wife? If you're hauling manure she is certain to wave differently than a Sunday morning trip to mass. Then again if you were driving your new truck to mass... I remember a trip across #2 through Montana and North Dakota. I thought it was one of the friendliest drives I'd made. Then I realized that one you only meet a car every 30-40 miles you are happy to see someone. I found myself waving at those people that I passed as well. Not sure that that was correct.

If you borrow something from a neighbor are you obligated to wave on your leaving knowing you will be returning soon? Does one wave upon that return knowing that the neighbor expected you anyway? I feel that you would be obligated upon your departure from the borrow to show your graditude with a wave.

You are correct in feeling a bit confused and I agree that there is room for some clarity.
 
(quoted from post at 14:58:41 08/02/16) In Stearns county one finger raised up constitutes a legitimate wave.

I suspect the intent of the wave would depend on which finger was raised???

Joe
 
if you have a new truk , tak a hammer and put a dent I n the tailgate or the passenger door ,,.seems like that always happened the the 1st month on every new anything I ever got ,,just myluck ,,I nearly wave at everyone ,,. unless I am thourghly disgusted about someone , a costly breakdown ,a stupid breakdown that easily could a been avoided requiring a drive 5 miles back to thw shop to get that very special tool,. or is some stupid driver flipped you off because 18mph is my top end and there is no safe place to pass ...
 
About twenty years ago there was a book and later a video titled "How to Talk Minnesotan". It has a section on waving techniques that is pretty good, er... not too bad.
 
I wave when ever its someone I know and random people the same. Of course have to wave at truckers and tractors/equipment. If the windows down(or I'm the one on tractor) all bets are off who or how hard the wave is(arm out or a simple gesture). Seems if on a motorcycle you wave or you are nobody(if hands are busy(shifting, usually) a simple nod works too).

If I'm on the receiving side I always acknowledge back(if I see them). Hands full wave the hand full(say a hammer or part), or even nod. There are some folk that go through and give a quick honk if they see anyone(notably the fuel truck driver), I almost unconsciously wave when I hear em.
 
That book/ show came to mind. I believe PBS 2 aired a 1/2 hour bit on MinnesOta etiquette. How not to refuse food from a host when making a visit. The MinnesOta goodbye. It's probably on You Tube somewhere.
 
I usta wave from my pk like my dad did, with 2 fingers of the L hand. Hand still on wheel. One day I noticed a guy viguriously flipping me the bird. I didn't know him and wondered what his problem was. After a bit, I remembred the 1/2 of my L index finger is gone. Now I wave with one finger. NOT that one lol
 
I scrolled into u-tube last night and found " How to talk Minnesotan" I darn near fell out of my Lazy boy chair watching it. Looks like it may have been produced during the late seventies.
 

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