Way back almost three years ago, I wrote in this space about my search for some hand love out on the roadways of Massachusetts.  What I mean is, when you yield your vehicle for the express purpose of letting another vehicle make a turn in front of you, speed ahead of you, or something like that.  In fact, I’ve been so bummed out lately about the lack of the gracious and thankful hand wave that I have failed to give the hand myself a couple of times.  But I am feeling pretty jazzed up right now!

I was just driving home from work and as I paused when the traffic light turned from red to green to let a driver across the intersection take a left turn in front of me, I sighed and fully expected to be taken for granted.  Nope.  The woman behind the wheel gave me a long, extended peace sign.  In fact, she was so thankful (that’s all I ask), that she extended her arm right across her passenger to her right in order to make sure I saw the peace sign.  I was so happy to see this that I even let the next car take a left turn in front of me.  See what can happen when one generous driver is properly thanked by another?  It leads to a “pay it forward” scenario from which everyone benefits. 

It’s the exact opposite that is ongoing now.  Just the other day, at a red light, someone nearly moved my car out of the way in order to cross my lane and another lane to take a left turn.  I beeped for a solid three-count and then when I passed them, I gave them some hand.  Actually, it was more of a finger.  That really pissed me off, so I was in a semi-road rage mood the rest of the way home.  But let’s hope there are more drivers out there who are okay with the easy give-and-take of pausing, yielding, and showing some hand (of the peace sign or five-fingered variety).