Say Hi
Since I've left the house this morning for work,
not only has the usual neighbor waved good morning,
but two others working in their yards as I drove
out of the neighborhood. I don't know their names.
I know they don't know me, other than the guy
from the family at the dead end of the street
driving the plain white Jeep Cherokee.
Why make today awkward with new hellos?
At the crosswalk up by the elementary school,
a man and his boy walked by, made eye contact
and nodded with a smile feeling reserved
for friends. Had I ever seen them before? No.
I'm sure I hadn't. By the time I was in traffic
downtown, waiting at a red light, I wouldn't look
around. I knew what I'd see: people looking
from their open windows, nodding, waving,
telling their kids to say hi. So, I didn't give in.
I just spent the rest of the day with my head down,
curious as to what everyone knew that I didn't.
