Strange adult behavior...
Last night I was talking with my friend (who was able to stay with us for the night!) about some strange adult behavior I had seen this summer, and how I had been meaning to post about it.
People usually don't interact a whole lot with strangers when out and about with family and friends, and the certainly don't wave enthusiastically at strangers in other cars. (Unless it is a one fingered kind of wave...) EXCEPT, apparently, when you are on an unusual form of transportation.
Ex 1: Milwaukee Zoo trains- every time a train crosses one of the paths around the zoo the adults enthusiastically wave at each other. The train people are certainly more vigorous, but the people waiting for it to pass are not immune.
Ex 2: People trams at Old World Wisconsin- ca 1978 electric people mover that drives around the site. We were riding on it and pulled aside to let another pass us going in the other direction, and lo and behold the waving began. Again, adults that barely acknowledge each other while walking and waiting for the tram suddenly become grinning waving fools. Not the casual raised hand of "hey I see you" but the "hellooooo, helloooo, how are you??? do you see me? Look at me! I see you! Hiiiiiii, helllooooooooo" kind of wave.
I would say that these experiences bring out our inner child, but I was sitting next to a very social and gregarious 4 yr old and she didn't seem to feel the need to wave. And only did so grudgingly when I encouraged her to wave.
In a few weeks I will be riding the old steam train at the annual Thresheree and I am sure I will see the same kind of behavior. Kinda makes me smile that all of us stuffy self absorbed people can for a few minutes act in such a silly way.
People usually don't interact a whole lot with strangers when out and about with family and friends, and the certainly don't wave enthusiastically at strangers in other cars. (Unless it is a one fingered kind of wave...) EXCEPT, apparently, when you are on an unusual form of transportation.
Ex 1: Milwaukee Zoo trains- every time a train crosses one of the paths around the zoo the adults enthusiastically wave at each other. The train people are certainly more vigorous, but the people waiting for it to pass are not immune.
Ex 2: People trams at Old World Wisconsin- ca 1978 electric people mover that drives around the site. We were riding on it and pulled aside to let another pass us going in the other direction, and lo and behold the waving began. Again, adults that barely acknowledge each other while walking and waiting for the tram suddenly become grinning waving fools. Not the casual raised hand of "hey I see you" but the "hellooooo, helloooo, how are you??? do you see me? Look at me! I see you! Hiiiiiii, helllooooooooo" kind of wave.
I would say that these experiences bring out our inner child, but I was sitting next to a very social and gregarious 4 yr old and she didn't seem to feel the need to wave. And only did so grudgingly when I encouraged her to wave.
In a few weeks I will be riding the old steam train at the annual Thresheree and I am sure I will see the same kind of behavior. Kinda makes me smile that all of us stuffy self absorbed people can for a few minutes act in such a silly way.