I know there is so much difficulty unfolding in the world right now. So much that weighs heavy, so much that rightly deserves our attention and care.
But today, I want to share something that’s a little lighter. Something silly. Something that made me smile, and maybe will make you smile too.
Recently, I saw a meme that pointed out how endearingly human it is that when people pass one another on ships or trains, they almost always wave. Big waves. Enthusiastic waves. As if we’ve been waiting our whole lives for this exact moment of mutual acknowledgment.
And honestly, it is pretty cute.
Not long ago, a friend and I were riding e-bikes in a warm climate, enjoying one of those days where your body feels grateful just to be outside. As we cruised along a path, we noticed a small, miniature train coming toward us. It belonged to the city zoo, full of families and kids and people clearly having a day.
So of course, we waved.
And of course, they waved back. Joyfully. Unselfconsciously. The kind of wave that says, Yes, hello fellow humans! Here we all are!
We laughed and kept going, already delighted.
But then, after the train passed, we realized something. The path curved. And the train curved. And unless the laws of physics had suddenly changed, we were going to cross paths again.
When it happened the second time, we just about lost it. There we were again, waving with the same enthusiasm. There were smiles that said, Wait… weren’t they just here?
We kept riding, now with a new thought forming between us.
What if we did this again?
So we sped up a bit. Took a different loop. Timed it just right. And yes, we found them a third time. On purpose.
The looks on people’s faces were priceless. Delight. A collective, unspoken: How are these people here again?
We waved, they waved, and it felt absurd and perfect.
Later, we laughed about it and said, “I guarantee at least five people are going to tell this story when they get home.”
And now, I’m telling you.
Sometimes, humans are cute.
—Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 