I was born and raised about 30 minutes north of Boston, Massachusetts. I am a native New Englander, and proud of it. We live a fast, competitive and intense lifestyle in the Northeast. Once one earns their driver’s license, emotions become amplified. People treat their commute as a race. If you’re dissatisfied with the speed in the left lane, you flash your headlights at the driver in front of you. If that car doesn’t move, you tailgate them. If the tailgate proves to be ineffective, you bolt across multiple lanes, only to cut back to the left lane in order to get ahead of the original driver. As you bolt by the person lollygagging in the left lane, you raise your middle finger in order to demonstrate your anger. The gesture usually results in a continued confrontation of flipping each other off for miles down the road.
When we moved to Colorado just over 8 years ago, the pace of play slowed. When I started hunting, things really changed. As I drive east, people wave at you. It is a subtle move with the left hand, but noticeable. At first, I was perplexed by the gesture. Did the person misidentify me as a friend? Do I wave back even though they have the wrong guy? It took a few trips to realize that these are people just being kind. I am not certain where the geographical line is in the State, but when I cross it, things change. I have adopted the motion, and now wave at every truck that passes me. Waving at another person I don’t know makes me feel good, so I will continue doing it.
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good note!
Thank you Bob.
I grew up waving at everyone that drove past 🙂 another 45 minutes further north and you would have too. Something about the White River.
Glad you took the time to slow down.
Glad I was able to experience how it should be, Anna.