not drowning, waving!!
October 19th 2007 03:45
thanks to jupiterimages.com for the image
melbourne has the added asset of the yarra river winding through the city with its glorious parks lining its entirety. this makes for a real hot spot for both people on the edge of the yarra enjoying the various barbies and space for 'six and out' (australian for cricket), along with those that choose to take a leisurely cruise on the many boats and floating cafes that cruise up and down this murky water playground.
why is it then that people feel the need to wave when they are on a boat? these are people you don't know, they don't know you, and chances are you will never see them again! i could almost guarantee that if this same person passed you on the street there is no way in hell that they would take the time to wave at you. the most alarming part of this exercise is that not only are you struck by the oddness of this action, you feel compelled to wave back! so you do and the 'waving happily to a complete stranger as they pass you in a boat' cycle is complete.
i wonder if it the hibernation of winter, or the glorious feel of summer that makes us act in this way. so soak in that feel of strangeness as you wave to me on the banks of the yarra this weekend, you know i'll wave back.
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Hahahaha!...so true...we have a boat and everyone waves (was that a pun intended??) madly to each other.
It's like being part of a 'club' I suppose. Bikers all nod at each other on the road. And car enthusiasts... vintage Jag drivers will all do a little hand-still-on-the- steering-wheel-gesture of acknowledgement.
Good to 'see' you Jonathon. Still running I see.
Dusk
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Mind you, my sister (if she's sitting in the passenger seat) will wave at people in cars as we pass them. Especially kids. Not that many people wave back at her (though kids do love it). She's 31, you'd think she'd have outgrown that by now....but apparently not
Good to see you back
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Also, I wave to people if I'm on a boat or a train, or if kids go by on a boat or a train. Everyone I know finds all this highly embarrassing. I find it strange myself but the impulse is irrepressible!
Great post, hope you don't hate me for being a waver.
Michaelie
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
yes still running, just. there was a moment but all good now.
the club! the nautical club! of course... i never thought of the parallels to the nod or the wave. i thought the wave was something you only did on country roads though?
kyliew,
good to be back..
i have to admit. i still find it funny to wave at random people from cars and watch their reactions of 'do i know him?' with a half arsed wave. perhaps it's how you amuse a 31 year old brain?
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
never hate anyone for it, just have to have a little giggle inside. as you go on your waving frenzy, do you find people wave back, or do they give you a look of 'what the?'
perhaps it is merely a nice gesture of community and belonging and yes it is totally acceptable to wave to kids - that's a given yeah? if the impulse is too strong, why resist?
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Actually I think it's the kids that reckon I'm the weirdest. I can see them thinking 'why is that mad woman waving at me?' Today's children are far more sophisticated than me. Lol.
Michaelie
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
The Wave has gone urban! True story. Around Easter, Canberra is full of vintage Jaguars because the Jaguar Club is in town and everyone drives around nodding and waving...a bit like those kitsch dogs that are kept in the back window!...plus I've seen it in Sydney, but weekends only...
I love the Biker Wave though...very cool, hand on hip, raise the palm, nod the helmet...
Have a great weekend Jonathon...
Dusk
Michaelie...you're gorgeous! That's so funny and KW...your sister!
I think the world needs more wavers.
Comment by Tersch
It's actually very nice to receive it in whatever manner. On the streets, walking past someone, and saying hello breaks the 'I'm walking here' attitude and lightens the mood.
When I was driving along the nullarbor the one finger howdy was employed alot. It makes sense really, you don't see many people driving the nullarbor so it breaks up the monotony.
It produces somewhat of a kinship, mainly through the fact two strangers seem to be doing/enjoying the same thing. It happens in many of areas in our lives.
In a strange, never thought about it, kinda way it makes me feel human and a little bit connected to that person who waved. It may be that it takes a certain type of person to do it voluntarily.
I always enjoy it!