A man driving back from the dump today absolutely nailed his wave to a minor acquaintance who passed him in his car.
“It was just fantastic,” said the man. “The guy drove past me, I recognized his car, I made eye contact and then gave a cool nonchalant wave.”
The guy was someone the man knew, but not very well. They often nodded or waved to one another when coming across each other in town, but never really had a full conversation.
“I don’t know that a full conversation would work between us. We both have kids in the same school who sometimes are involved in the same activities, but, beyond that, there is not much to talk about,” said the man.
“But we usually wave to each other when we recognize each other, and have short pleasant comments we make to each other in passing, that really would make one think we are better friends than we really are,” said the man.
“For example, the other day we passed by each other in the supermarket and I said, ‘Cold enough for you?’
He laughed and responded. “Tell me about it!” As we continued on without stopping. It was a very jovial and satisfying encounter.
Today at the dump the man was equally pleased with his well-timed wave and eye contact, because he rarely recognizes other people’s cars when they drive by.
They might recognize him and wave, and then think he is rude for not waving back, but, in reality, he did not recognize the car or see the wave.
“But this time I nailed it!”
