How my New Car Gave me Hope for Humanity

Well, folks, let me tell you a little story about my unexpected journey into the world of Jeep Wranglers. I mean, I'm not what you'd call a car fanatic. Nope, I'm more of a "get me from point A to B in the burbs" kind of gal. But when my trusty Toyota hit the 200,000-mile mark (and failing to convince a pesky mouse that my car wasn't a rodent-resort), I decided it was time for a change.

So there I was, standing at the dealership, trying to make sense of all the different options. But, when I spotted that Jeep Wrangler, something inside me just said, "Why not?" Maybe it was the thought of all that extra room for my work-related travel or the allure of open-air adventures. Who knows? What I didn't know, though, was that there's a whole set of rules and etiquette in the world of Wranglers.

Picture this: I'm cruising down the road in my new Wrangler, and suddenly, complete strangers start waving at me. At first, I'm thinking, "Do I know this person?" and "Hmm, that guy definitely isn't a long-lost cousin." It was all a bit perplexing. But me being the curious soul I am, I did some digging, thanks to our trusty friend Google.

Turns out, when you own a Jeep Wrangler, every other Jeep Wrangler owner in the world is your friend. No kidding! And this camaraderie is identified by something called "the Jeep Wave." I'm like, "The Jeep Wave? Seriously?" As someone who's all about following the rules, I jumped right in and started waving at every Wrangler owner I came across.?

Now, there's a bit of a learning curve to this Jeep waving thing. I started off with a full-on, enthusiastic embrace that you'd usually reserve for reuniting with a long-lost buddy. My excitement was real, folks. But my kids quickly clued me in, the word "dorky" was tossed out. Ouch.

Oh, and then there's the coffee factor. You know, those mornings when I'm juggling a cup of joe while driving the kids to school? I'd try to wave, but it looked more like I was toasting the oncoming driver. That got me some puzzled looks. After a bit of trial and error, I adjusted to the casual-cool two-finger lift from the wheel, and that seemed to do the trick. Once I got the wave right, something remarkable happened. I noticed that I genuinely felt happy and smiled when passing a fellow Jeep buddy. For just a few seconds in my crazy, hectic day, I felt connected to a complete stranger. I would actually make eye contact, noticing that often, the other driver was smiling too, even if just briefly.

But here's the real kicker – age, sex, race, hairstyle, clothing – none of it matters to a Wrangler owner. All those cultural differences and prejudices just melt away. It's like Google said: all Wrangler owners are friends.

So, here's my wild thought: could this simple wave be the answer to world peace? I mean, think about it. All those -isms and intolerances could just disappear with a friendly wave. It's heartwarming to realize that focusing on what makes us alike, rather than what makes us different, can bring us together.

Now, before you go thinking I've gone into the car dealership business or something, let me clarify – I'm not saying we all need to rush out and buy a new car. But maybe, just maybe, we could initiate some other "waves" in our lives. Perhaps it's time we spent a little more time noticing our likenesses rather than our differences, whether we're talking about cars, communities, or congress.

Now, if you're thinking, "How can we bring a slice of this Wrangler camaraderie to the next generation?" Well, it's a darn good question. Besides the obvious (having adult role models, like, perhaps the leaders of our country???), imagine if we encouraged our young ones to find their own "waves" within their classroom or school. Maybe it's a friendly nod or a secret handshake. By helping kids recognize that they may be different from each other in some ways, yet alike in others, might we foster a sense of community that transcends boundaries? So, whether it's on the road or in the classroom, perhaps it's time to teach our children that a simple gesture of friendship can make the world a better place, one wave at a time.

Take a moment to ponder the possibilities. Share your thoughts. What would you do with your students?