The Wave

         I fear that I have started the demise of one of the state of
Nebraska's
greatest assets - the wave.

         Growing up, I noticed when we were on the highway with my
father and we
passed another vehicle going the opposite direction, he would raise one
or two
fingers at the driver in what I would years later learn to be the wave.

         I recall not everyone returned his wave, but every so often
someone
did. I would not realize the significance of this until years later
when he
would drive me to Nebraska to go to college.

Properly executed, it is an impressive thing to see. While the
driver
keeps his hand anchored in some way to the steering wheel, they left as
many
figers as desired as they pass the oncoming vehicle in a wave. The
thumb is
never used. I myself like to anchor it around the top of the
steeringwheel.

         I have noticed that some people raise all four digits, while
most raise
just the index finger. On occasion one will raise the first two. I
don't
believe I have ever seen anyone just raise the pinky. Somehow it seems
like
impropper ettiquette to just raise one's pinky at an oncoming driver.

         At first, I thought it was a stupid waste of time that only
hickish
nebraskans would come up with. Heck, you would never see a Kansan or
Oklahoman, that I know of, do such a thing. Growing up a Coloradoran,
the only
people I saw do it were my grandfather and my dad and occasionally the
odd
extended family member from my dad's side that managed to find their
way to our
house. They usually either currently resided in Nebraska or had grown
up there.
Apparently a true native Nebraskan cannot leave the wave in Nebraska
when they
are transplanted to other states. I guess it is some inbreeding thing.

         I know that when I pass a car on the way to Ohio or
pennsylvania and
the fingers raise as they pass me without their hand leaving the wheel,
that I
have passed a fellow Nebraskan.

         Now don't think for a minute that I participate in this
activity. I
don't; which is why I am beginning to fear it is going the way of the
dodo
bird.

         I swear, these people wave all the time at anybody. At first,
I
thought they just waved at their neighbors. Then I decided it was the
old
farmers waving at each other. Then I noticed that whole towns were
waving. It
is a sight to behold. I used to think these people were crazy, but now
that the
wave is becoming extinct, I feel a twinge of sadness welling up inside
of my
heart.

         There are rules, I have found out for using the wave. First of
all as
I mentioned before, ones hand must maintain contact with the wheel,
even if it
is just resting lazily on it and not actually being used for driving.

         Either hand may be used, but it must be at the top of the wheel
for
maximum visability of the passing driver.

         When you are kicking back listening to the stereo, with your
left arm
resting on the ledge by the window, it is not permissable to leave it
resing
there and raise your fingers from that position. That is lazy,
disrespectful
and generally cannot be seen by the oncoming driver.

         It is rude to raise only the middle finger and generally not
permitted.
When this happens, tires screach to a halt, trucks turn around,
flashing lights
blink and the offending culprit is pulled over and given whatfore.
Nebraskans
are a polite lot and like to keep their highways and interstates
friendly.

         You do not wave in town. That is just downright weird. If you
must
acknowledge a friend, that is what the horn is for. Just a quick tap
with the
right thumb is sufficient. we also like the fact that our cities and
towns are
quiet.

         I have tried to figure out who started the wave and when it
became
tradition, but nobody seems to know; it is just accepted as fact. It
exists
and you don't question it.

         I asked my grandma once why people wave like that and he said
that the
farms used to be far away so when you saw a neighbor, you waved. I
guess that
is common sense. I assume that they needed both hands to remain on the
wheel
of the unruly trucks they used to drive.

         Grandpa had a differnt explaination. He said in the
prohibition days
when they were running moonshine they would use the wave to signal if
all was
well. They would decide how many fingers meant cops and how many meant
all
clear and how many meant you better get your butt back home before mom
finds
out you are not doing chores. Apparently there were things about my
grandfather
and his older brothers I didn't really want to know.

         There have been many times when I feel like the wave is just
plain a
retarded nusance and I refuse to participate in such nonsense. I drive
a
hundred miles a day to and from work. If I wave at ever car that goes
by, my
wrist is going to be sore by the end of the trip. Besides, I grew up
in
Colorado so I am just plain lazy. I have my own thoughts to think and
I can't
be bothered to remember to wave at a car as it goes by. Heck I rarely
even
notice when I pass somebody I actually talk to on the city streets. I
can't
tell you how many times I have been called stuck up by a co worker who
waved
till her arm was going to fall off and I never saw her.

         I do have to admit that there have been a couple times when I
felt
comfort when a passing car was considerate enough to wave at me as I go
by.
Most of the cars I pass now are used to me not waving back and just
don't waste
their waves on me anymore. Everyone except the UPS man. every night
at 6:45,
we pass on highway 6. Even with the sun in his eyes, he lifts his
bottom three
fingers and curves them up at me to say, "Good evening, see you
tomorrow." and
once in a while, I lift a finger or two from my arms lazy perch on the
ledge of
the door. I know I am doing it, but I know he can't see them because
they are
on the door and not high up on the wheel. He must think me incredibly
rude.

         I have tried to create a new ritual that I like much better,
but most
of the drivers I have passed are not catching on. Either they think I
have a
nervous twitch or I am just odd. I have decided that a nod is a
congenial
greeting.

         I am the gatekeeper so to speak at the college cafeteria I work
in. As
a student passes by me, they have to give me their student number or
show me the
id card the admissions office gave them as proof they have meal
privledges. Now
after awhile I have either name, face or number recognition and if I
don't need
them to speak their number or show me their id, i just nod them in.
Most of
them think it is really fool that I have memorized them. they love to
get the
nod. It is their sighn that I care enough to know who they are.

         Apparently other drivers don't think my nod is that cool. It
is not an
acceptable response to the wave. I have noticed that people my age
pretty much
are boycotting the wave. It is the older generation and now believe it
or not
the younger generation after us that are doing most of the waving.
Just the
other day, my daughter, now 16 was driving; I was the passenger and as
we
passed another vehicle she did her version of the wave and other cars
were
responding. I could not believe my offspring without ever seeing me do
the
wave and not being around my grandparents, uncles aunts, etc... was
doing the
wave. I questioned where she picked up the wave. Her answer was
common sense
and matter of fact, "Duh, mom, I am passing someone, it is polite."

         I guess you can take the wave out of the girl, but why would
you want
to?

         I am going to practice my wave now.