YourHub.com \\ The Valley \\ Blogs \\ Family & Community \\ Community

Blog Entry 2 of 3 Empty Nest Full Heart

The empty nest is not empty at all! After dreading it for so long, I find that it actually opens my life to more friends, more fun, more self-awareness. And I have learned to enjoy some solitude, also. To my delight, both Tom and Becky come home often, with friends, boyfriends and girlfriends - all bright, articulate kids. So much is going on. This blog will let you in on the journey --new events, landmarks in our lives, memories of times past, and thoughts about my situation.

Blog Url: http://valleynews.com/~KarenFountain

The 'Thank You Wave'

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

NEXT › ‹ PREVIOUS

Contributed by: Karen Fountain on 10/4/2008

How did it come to this? I notice it all the time. You are in your car, waiting to back out of a parking space. When it is clear, you start to back out. Around the corner and down your lane comes another car, and the driver has no intention of stopping.

You stop, halfway out of your space, and let them pass. They never stop. They assert their "right of way." This has, unfortunately, become the general standard for behavior in a parking lot.

It is a very long time since I learned to drive. Back then, in the late 1960s, parallel parking was actually a part of your final driving exam. So were hand and arm signals for right and left turns.

And when you were tooling down the lane in a parking lot, it was customary to stop and allow another motorist to finish their exit, whether you wanted that space or not. Things change, and unfortunately driver courtesy is one of those things.

One of my first thoughts, as it became clear that I would be getting a divorce, was the thought, "Geez, I am going to have to teach Tom and Becky to drive all by myself." Teaching a teenager to drive is often unnerving as it is, let alone having twins and doubling the experience.

Factor in 20-plus years selling insurance, with the inside knowledge of teen accident frequency, and I was a wreck. But we got through it. I taught them to drive, defensively and politely.

I wish we could all get back to the polite way of driving. Even when my children were younger, I went out of my way to show an example. I always yielded to let someone in. And whenever another driver yielded to let me change lanes, I always made a point of giving them the "Thank You Wave."

Just a little wave with my right hand, given into the rear view mirror, so that the driver behind me would see my wave of acknowledgement. "Thank you," I always said out loud, hoping that this courtesy would be instilled in my children.

And it worked. It is gratifying to be a passenger in their cars and see them observe these basic courtesies. Even the little "I'm sorry" look and shrug, given when another motorist feels that they have been somehow wronged.

"It doesn't matter that you are not in the wrong," I told them. The apology makes everyone involved feel better, and possibly may diffuse further interaction should they encounter a motorist with a potential for violence.

Yield. Be courteous. Give the "Thank You Wave." Show your children a good example. See how nice it makes you feel!

< Previous: 'Empty nest, full heart' | Next: 'Old Canoga Park was a ...' >

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog