The Wave

When I first started coming to Minnesota in the summertime, I noticed my family waving at everyone we passed in the campground or on the lake.

"Who was that", I'd ask.

With a shrug of their shoulders, they'd say they didn't know.

"So why do you wave at them?"

When I was growing up in North Dakota, it was very common to wave at a passing car in town, even if the wave was one index finger held up off the steering wheel. I don't remember that being so common in Fargo, but once you hit the city limits of Casselton, the waves would begin.

Here's my theory. This area is filled with very polite, nice people. Way back when, the tradition of waving started just to be nice. Way back when everyone knew everyone else. Now, I think people wave just in case they might know that person. Don't want ugly gossip to spread that you're a non-waver, i.e., not friendly.

Another theory? It's a guaranteed way to tell who the tourists are by who waves and who doesn't.