Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The Southern Wave



That's "wave", as in "howyadoin'?

Southerners, and native Texans in particular, are friendly people.  We smile and say "Hi" to strangers we meet on the sidewalk, say "please" and "thank you" with Metamucil regularity, and wave at each other a lot.  It's just what we do.

K teases me for talking to the neighbors, but I just can't help myself.  (She's only a naturalized Texan, having been born in the Cereal State of California.)  Last weekend, for example, I got in our elevator with a guy who had just finished his morning run.

"Great day to be outdoors, huh?"

"Yeah, this feels great, much nicer than where I came in from yesterday."

"Oh, where was that?"

"Philly."

"Are you moving here or just visiting?"

"My wife has been working here for 2 years and commuting, but now I'm moving here, too."

"Welcome, then.  Hope you enjoy it here."

Then we both got off on the same floor and he entered the apartment where the uber-businesslike lady lives that I see on weekdays leaving for work.  She must make big bucks in order to commute back and forth to Philly!

See....friendly.

And all us dog walkers are on speaking terms, too.  I know them all....Noah and Angel and Oliver, etc.  Those are the dogs.  We acknowledge each other as "Noah's owner", "Angel's owner", and so forth.

Which brings me to "the wave".  Sometimes the simple, harmless wave can get a little creepy.

Every morning as I'm walking Luke the Wonderdog a lady driving dark blue Ford Explorer pulls out of the garage, drives by very slowly, gives me a little smile, followed by the Southern Wave.  And I smile and wave back.  

Trouble is, I have absolutely no idea who she is.  I've racked my brain (which didn't take long) and still have no clue where we've met.  Oh, I forgot to mention....she has out-of-state plates. And the side and rear windows are super dark tinted, like they have on those TV cop shows when they have cameras and video recorders inside.  *cue the scary music*


I'm really hoping she's just being Texas friendly, too, and isn't someone sent here by the NSA to start a dossier on me.  (I think they read my blog.)  Or maybe Vladimir Putin took offense to something I've written about him, or worse, Ted Cruz took offense to something I've written about him.  Or the American Bankers Associaiton, or....wow, this could be a long list!  :)

S




10 comments:

  1. As is often said, you're not being paranoid if someone really is out to get you...

    ReplyDelete
  2. I drive a Jeep Wrangler. Wrangler owners have their own wave, we lift three fingers off the steering wheel to form a W. Every once and a while I give the W sign to a four door Wrangler and they return the wave. I don't know why, but I think the wave should only go to an original two door Wrangler...I may need to see someone.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tell K about it, she'll have an answer for you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. If the government calls and starts asking questions about you, exactly what do you want me to say?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm already totally screwed, Steve. Just save yourself! :)

      Delete
  5. Don't get too scared about the Explorer lady. She's in love with Luke the Wonderdog.

    And all us dog walkers are on speaking terms, too. Now this I can relate to...I've struck up conversations with total strangers who have a camera hanging from the neck. "Did you see the alligator about half a mile back thataway?"

    ReplyDelete
  6. sometimes I talk to them....sometimes I think 'oh a person...should I switch sides of the street so they don't talk to me?" If Luke wants to meet the other dog - we go meet the other dog - unless it's that Husky - he doesn't like him at all. You have talked to our balcony neighbors - right after mentioning "oh somebody has moved in next door I hope they don't want to talk to us" .... I haven't said a word to them....using my normal "I am sorry friendship applications are no longer being accepted"

    ReplyDelete
  7. replica nappy bags hermes replica handbags w7r21v4c79 replica kipling bags dig this r1g62a3e49 louis vuitton replica handbags replica bags new york h6g51k7w99 replica bags supplier Visit Website c4w02x9b91 replica bags vancouver

    ReplyDelete