Some years back, probably 20 years ago or more, I wrote a column on these pages regarding folks here in Thomasville and Thomas County and how they waved at each other as they passed each other on the roads and streets. At that particular time – for whatever reason – it seemed like this once-widespread habit, which I think is just a basal part of the fabric of our community, appeared to be falling out of favor.

Today, I am happy to report I think that might be changing in the other direction.

Some context for you. I have visited and been a part of Thomasville pretty much all of my life, as my family has been rooted here for now 200 years (seriously).  But the place I was born was Jacksonville, and I lived there until I was 12. Needless to say, that big city is not nearly as warm and cordial as most small, tight-knit communities, up to and including ours.

I mean it makes sense. Big cities are so spread out and there are so many people that seeing familiar faces regularly can sometimes be a daunting task. So it stands to reason that people living in them wouldn’t be nearly as willing to show open signs of cordiality to each other as those living in smaller communities.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that to be fact, but when we moved here permanently I was still somewhat surprised to find just about everybody here waving at each other when they passed on the roads. That was one of the first things that I noticed as a young guy that made a very favorable impression on me about this place. It was kind of an unspoken, friendly, “good to see you“ gesture that always made me smile a little bit inside.

But as mentioned, we went through a stretch where that friendly little habit seemed to fade away. I don’t know if that’s because we had so many people coming here from other places like Jacksonville where that type of warm and fuzzy show of regard wasn’t a regular part of their existence. We had a lot of people for quite a period at the time coming here from big cities, who were, kind of like my family, looking for a slower, simpler, kinder place to live.

And, kind of like me, seeing everybody waving at everybody else was something they just weren’t used to or that was something they felt needed to be done.

Back when I wrote that first column, I actually did an experiment where I rode around and waved at everybody I went by. If memory serves, out of about 100 or so vehicles that I came upon, only about 20 or so waved back at me. That fact saddened me, because it felt like part of what made our home special was being lost.

But with all that said, here in the last couple of years, I have noticed a lot more people instigating that friendly wave without my having to do so. Of course, I wave back in every instance, but it has done my heart good to see that practice show back up.

For those not in the know, there is kind of an unspoken etiquette involved in the friendly practice of waving today, and for educational purposes for those not in the know, I will now illustrate.

If you go by someone that you don’t know, most people will raise one finger (normally their index finger…of course, you can use a different finger, but doing so carries an entirely different message than using your index finger. Those types of one-finger waves are easily found on the streets of Atlanta). To be sure, the one-finger wave simply means “howdy.” Two fingers used in conjunction with each other means “how are you doing?” It is difficult to use three fingers while driving (try it if you don’t believe me), so most people skip straight to four fingers. The four-finger wave, which leaves just the thumb hooked onto the steering wheel, means “How’s your mama and them doing?” A full-fledged five-finger wave that necessitates having to bring your other hand into play to take the steering wheel is normally reserved for people you at least think you recognize, and it means “Hey friend, give me a holler sometime!”

You get the idea.

There are a lot of things that living in a small town and tight-knit community special. But for me, it’s that feeling that wherever you go whomever you encounter has your back mainly because they care about the place you both call home as much as you do. There is something priceless and very special about that kind of view.

So the next time you go out and about, keep an eye on the vehicles that you pass by. I can almost guarantee you that some – if not most – of the drivers of those other vehicles will make some kind of effort to acknowledge you. If you recognize them, then respond with that five-finger wave that is reserved for familiar faces.

But at the very least, give them the courtesy of that one-finger reply.

Just be sure, however, that you do so using the correct finger.