Waving on the Waves
Waving melts the apprehension of strangers. A wave means they are okay and you’re okay, if only for today. Yes, when you extend your hand in friendship, you expect a return. It’s only polite.
They say waving got started when people raised a hand to show they were unarmed. It makes sense.
You can tell how happy people are by how high they raise their hand to wave. Starting at the top, there is the arm straight up with hand flapping from side to side . . . really trying to get your attention. These people are happy and secure with their exuberance and are sure to get a return wave.
You won’t see many men using this flapper. They may, however, hold their hand up high for a long time in a “salute,” an indication of the way they are feeling at the moment. You’ll get a salute from motor boaters as they breeze by.
Some sailboaters tend to act busy, as if they don’t have time to look in your direction. “Don’t bother me, I’m serene.” Oh well, it’s their time on the water. If they don’t want a wave, it’s their loss.
Even though there seem to be more people on the water these days, they wave less than they used to, said Mike Gregg of Mathews, who has spent 40 years on the East River.
Waving tends to decrease as the number of people or traffic increases. On the other hand, waving increases when there are fewer people around.
Waving is an obligation when boats closely pass. Or, if you look at the other boat too long, a wave is required. If your head is turned to the side looking toward a boat as it goes by, you gotta wave.
Many a confrontation started with, “What are you looking at?” A simple wave stops that.
Boaters tend to check out each other’s boats, especially when up on a plane with the spray fanning out in a symmetrical vee. For them the wave affirms that the thousands of dollars spent were well worth it, indeed.
Fishermen are good for a wave almost any time. It helps break the monotony. Look for them to take one hand off the rod, bend an elbow and maybe raise it to the shoulder—no further.
It’s kind of like men dancing. I once heard a comedian say that “real men” didn’t raise their hands over their heads when dancing.
It’s ingrained for men to not show emotions . . . unless they are angry. Then, they don’t care who is watching them as they make fools of themselves.
Waving is not just for the water. A custom that’s prevalent while driving in the Rivah Country is the one finger wave. Drivers have one hand at the 11 or 1 o’clock position on the steering wheel and raise the index finger an inch or so when passing by, mostly on a back road. Try it.
I’ve actually raised my hand to adjust my rear view mirror and the oncoming driver waves back, because it would be unfriendly not to return a wave. If they’ve passed you, you can still wave.
Chip Goin of Mathews uses a casual approach when boating. He raises his hand no higher than his eyes. “You don’t want to wave to everybody.”
Raise your drink, give a tip before you take a sip, then you don’t get your feelings hurt if they don’t return your wave. Of course, they may not see the subtle nod.
Keep in mind, an unrequited wave is not a big deal. They may not have seen you wave due to the sun’s glare or shadows, or the wave itself may have been too casual and not obvious.
Goin’s wife, Carol Ann, is teaching their 2-year-old granddaughter, Rayann, to wave. “She’ll wave to anybody and says, ‘Hi.’ ”
Another thing about boating waves. Say you’re approaching a boat. If the person sitting in back of the boat waves, the rider in front of him doesn’t know he has waved. The person in the approaching boat waves back, causing the front rider of the first boat to wave, which requires another wave from the other boat.
The best idea: Be like Rayann—everybody wave.
Soon you’ll be saying, “People sure are friendly in Rivah Country.”
