I studied Communications in college. One of the things I love about being a Communication student is observing people and watching how they react to others.

 My professor shared a story about getting on an elevator that had only one other person on it, and then taking a position right next to the existing passenger and observing how that person reacted.  Most people will move away if given the chance.

From time to time I conduct my own experiments.

One of my older experiments involved a man who stood at my street corner every morning waiting for the bus.

Initially I began my experiment with driving past him each morning and attempting to making eye contact.  Once he began making eye contact with me, I gave him a little head nod of acknowledgement. When he began bobbing back, I upped my game to smiling and waving at him.

All told it took about 2 weeks, but by the end of those two weeks, he was eagerly awaiting my approach, in fact you could tell by his body language how much he was anticipating the friendly morning wave.

I also make many observations. Some may call them assumptions, but you know what they say about assumptions. In this particular instance I am referring to them as observations.

As I patrol peruse walk the neighborhood with Sampson and Delilah each morning, we usually encounter a number of neighbors as they depart on their way to start their day.

I have to go on record as saying this is one of the un-friendliest neighborhoods I’ve ever lived in. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t need a neighbor crawling up my ass, but it would be nice to introduce yourself when someone moves in across the street from you.  I do know my neighbors on either side of me, well enough to stop for a quick chat when I catch them in the yard, and another older neighbor (across and up the street) with MS who absolutely adores my dogs.

Anywhoo, as stated in the first sentence, I’m a Communication’s Major and that means that I…well…I like to communicate.  I’m a social and friendly sort of gal so as we travel the neighborhood and pass people going about their business, I usually wave. It’s not a crazy wave, I refer to it as the Flipper, no not because I’m using a certain finger, it’s because I just sort of flip my hand up as I pass by. Sort of like a dolphin coming up out of water.

I get a variety of waves in return.

• The Gomer Pyle  – This one comes from the newest member of the neighborhood. Her hand waves frantically back and forth, I’m guessing she’s just so damn happy someone in the neighborhood actually waves to her.
• The Jeep Wave – If you’ve ever owned a Jeep, you’ll know this wave.  It’s a casual kind of wave where the hand remains on the wheel and the fingers just lift off ever so slightly. (My husband says it’s like belonging to a club or something.)
• The Schultz – I see nothing, I know nothing. This person pretends they don’t see you and as such, they do not have to acknowledge you.
• The Mr. Rogers – Typically this wave comes from the older generation. These are the peeps who raise their arm up so their hand is at about head level, the hand may or may not wave back and forth.
• The Drill Sergeant – This isn’t actually a wave at all. It comes from the woman in this house.

I swear she has motion activated cameras somewhere, because as soon as the dogs approach the house, she opens her door and stands in the doorway with her arms crossed. If you wave at her…she ignores you.

• The Heil Hitler – This person’s hand comes up almost like you were asking someone to stop, their eyes remain on the road, almost as if it was a requirement.

What kinds of waves do you observe in your neighborhoods?  Did you recognize any of mine?