THE WAVE

     It was Memorial Day, a holiday to remember all the people that gave their life for freedom.  I decided to go for a run around the Land of the Spiral Bridge and breathe the fresh Mississippi air.  Hastings is a town of 20,000 people but it still has its small town rural nature.  On the bluffs of the Mississippi, well inside the city limits a large horse farm estate belonging to the owners of Smead Manufacturing operates.  As I plodded along in my slow jog, a half dozen families of bicylers were also at the crossways where the road meets the walking trail that heads down into the Mississippi valley.  I noticed about 60 yards away, an older man sitting in a lawn chair on the gravel drive-way in front of his horse barn door.  He was taking in the sunshine, which our spring had failed to deliver, he sat and I imagined he relaxed as he watched the world of Hastings adventurers enjoy the path outside of his horse farm. 
     I'm sure--I was the only one that noticed him as I strolled along. 
     At the moment, it occurred to me, that in the past which is still true in rural settings that it is common courstey when two souls crossed paths they greeted each other with a raising of the hand.  The Wave.  It is such a trait in larger surburbs and cities not even to greet a passeron by with a simple "Hello."   As I was brought up in a small town, "The Wave" was simply, a gesture of "Hello."  It was a simple sign of respect for the other person.
     So, I looked the distance of sixty yards and raised my arm and signaled a simple extended wave to the fellow sitting in the lawn chair.
     About five seconds later, the gentleman responded--he was too far away to see his facial expression, but suddenly, I saw his whole arm swing with one solid long wave.  I only can imagine he had a big grin attached to that "Wave." 
     Yes,  maybe it was Memorial Day that made us do this--but the old country rural tradition satisified my spirit of Freedom and his response made me smile!  It made me smile--all day!  In the Land of the Spiral Bridge--Him and I understood "The Wave!"  I was proud to be an American!  The old tradition continues.

     P.S.  If you are new to this little blog--I wrote a book titled, "THE FLAG SALUTES THE WIND."  It's on Amazon and available on Kindle.  Thank you, Dan McGinnis