From the desk of Teresa Jordan, Executive Director – Saying goodbye to my kids’ grandparents is a well choreographed ritual (outside of pandemic times) – you hug and kiss each person you are departing from one by one and then exit. Then, you pause in the car until the party inside can assemble at the large window or porch door and, if needed, you back up the car or turn on the interior light for the wave.
It had been a long time since I had visited when we dropped off a gift for Mother’s Day. But the minute we piled back in the car, my instincts took over and I reversed a little for a better view and we waved our hearts out. This is not my only waving ritual – my grandparents always came out on their back stoop to wave, my elderly mother-in-law to her car port, and countless others.
On the one hand is not the hug goodbye, the visit we just had or the saying of goodbye ample effort? On the other, what joy is ours in this little bit of extra goodbye, the little send off during which, just for one more moment, I am holding on to the visit and being sent more love as I go down the street.
Waving is a big thing now that all meetings are done virtually; in almost all cases we not only say goodbye but wave to each other as cameras are clicking off and the meeting is ending. When I go for a walk on my back road, I wave at every car, because some could be my neighbours and would expect it. Others will be left wondering how I know them, and everyone waves back – so it’s a great entertainment really. What does a wave say? I see you; I will see you soon; I care; we are all in this together.
Photo by Julia M Cameron on Pexels.com
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