The wave… etc.
In another post, I commented that I’ve always thought it would be fun to write a humorous guide to fitting in in Washington County and there were certain things I thought I could do to look the part – Carhart coat, pickup with gun rack, K-State cap, be able to talk about the weather, get a rain gauge and know how much rain (in hundredths) you got last night, wave to everyone when driving, say hi on the sidewalk to everyone, etc… I think it could be a humorous story to write.
I remember when I first moved to Kansas from Minnesota, I was riding in a vehicle with my parents and I noticed Jere giving a little pointer finger wave to every vehicle we met on the road. I paid attention and then was very impressed that he evidently knew every single person in this county. I asked about it and found out that while he probably did know almost everyone in that particular area by there vehicle… he was just waving because that is what people around here do. Since then, I’ve picked up the wave (except if I’m really tired in the morning and on the highway and then I’m often forget to lift a finger… but I feel bad about it.) I’ve also often suggested this wave should be taught in driver’s ed class for local kids.
Anyway, let’s have some fun here. What other sorts of unique local cultural traits do we have here?
This is a “you know you’re from Kansas if….” list, but so much applies that I thought it was pretty good.
1. You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water.
2. You have never met any celebrities. (Bob Dole isn’t a celebrity; he’s your neighbor.)
3. You know the meaning of Rock Chalk Jayhawk.
4. Your closest neighbor is more than a mile away and you can still see him from your front porch.
5. You can properly pronounce Salina, Basehor, Cimarron, Schoenchen, Kechi, Olathe and Osawatomie.
6. Going on vacation means going to Hutch to the fair or to Abilene to Ike’s museum.
7. A traffic jam involves two cars staring each other down at a four-way stop, each determined to be the most polite and let the other go first.
8. A Mercedes Benz is not a status symbol. A Ford F150 4×4 is. (Except in Johnson County)
9. You discover that in July it takes only 2 fingers to drive your car.
10. The terms Sooners and Huskers cause hairs on the back of your neck to stand up straight and your blood pressure to rise.
11. You have owned at least one belt buckle bigger than your fist.
12. You think people who complain about the wind and weather in their states are SISSIES!
13. You are not surprised to find movie rentals, ammunition and bait all in the same store.
14. You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door but by the availability of shade.
15. You have been asked, “Where is Toto” more than once.
16. You had at least one summer job that was bucking bales or custom cutting.
17. More than once you’ve made a beer run to another state.
18. You learned how to shoot a gun before you learned to multiply.
19. Your school classes have been canceled because of the cold.
20. You know in your heart that KU or K-State can beat Oklahoma in football.
21. Traffic congestion is ten cars waiting to pass a combine on the highway.
22. You have had to switch from heat to A/C in the same day.
23. You know everything goes better with Ranch.
24. Your school classes have been canceled because of the heat.
25. You have ridden the school bus for more than an hour each way.
26. In August, you break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:00 a.m.
27. You instantly know someone is from Johnson County when they call everything west of Topeka “Western” Kansas.
28. A tornado warning siren is your signal to go out in the yard and look for a funnel.
29. You know the real way to pronounce the name of Clinton’s state and the river. arKANSAS.
30. You think the opening day of pheasant season is a national holiday.
31. “Vacation” means going to Kansas City or Wichita for the weekend.
32. You measure distance in hours.
33. You know several people who have hit more than one deer.
34. You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events.
35. You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
36. You think of the major food groups as beer, beef and beans.
37. You carry jumper cables in your car and make sure your better half knows how to use them.
38. You design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
39. You know the 4 seasons as: summer, road construction, still summer, winter.
40. It takes you 3 hours to go to the store for one item even when you’re in a rush because you have to stop and talk to everyone in town.
41. You lock the doors to your truck but leave the windows rolled down.
42. You call sodas just plain ol’ “Pop”!!
43. You feel safe leaving you truck running while you go in the gas station.
44. You had at least one field trip in grade school that went to a dairy farm or one room school house.
45. FINALLY….. you are 100% Kansan if……….. You actually understand these jokes
How’s this for number 46:
You leave your car unlocked in downtown Washington on a late summer day and return to find it stuffed full of zucchini and tomatoes.
Or you come home to find bowls of fruit in your refrigerator that you neighbor brought over while you were at work.
Or you check in late at the hotel and there is a note outside the hotel office with a welcome note and your key so you don’t have to bother the hotel owners. They trust you!
you all need to lock your car and house up LOL
My husband and I were driving in our pickup. Our two year old was sitting between us. He would hold up his hand with his index finger pointing up. We couldn’t figure out what he was doing. It took us a little while but we realized he was trying to wave at people like his Dad. LOL Only he wasn’t big enough to see over the dash. Fond memories.
This is great! I actually do a “head nod” if I can’t get my finger to the wheel! Like the oncoming traffic can actually see my head nod but like Dan said, I feel bad if I don’t wave and they do!
I’ve done the head nod too, then I feel stupid thinking… “like they can see that!”