The Dilemma

The hallway in the office is long.  It runs the length of the building.  When I turned the corner I saw a coworker at the other end.  She crossed the hall but before she disappeared around the corner, she paused, smiled and waved.  We have said hello to each other in passing but the physical gesture seemed to jump to a whole new level.  Were we ready to commit to more than a polite hello when in hearing distance? 

It seemed odd to me.  Then I realized.  What if somebody is behind me?  I have been known to assume someone is making contact with me when in reality – not so much.  In fact, I kind of do it a lot.  Surely somebody was behind me.  Somebody who was on a waving basis with this co-worker.  That would make sense.  But how could I know without turning my head and looking?  That would just look silly.

Hence, the dilemma.

So, do I wave and risk being mocked for intruding on somebody else’s wave or do I not do anything and be known as Ms. Snooty-Patooty?  I waved.  I also never looked behind me because I didn’t want to know if I was wrong.  Better to be laughed at for over-friendliness than to be ostracized for being rude.  Especially in an office filled with women.

The Update

I called the Ford store today to get help with my radio/clock situation.  First of all, the person’s name who answered the phone was Corina.  I’m sure it wasn’t spelled that way but I spell-checked it for her.  That never happens to me.  This must be what Jennifers feel like.

After I recovered from my shock, I asked her about my radio.

“What?” she responded.

“My battery went dead and I need to reset my radio/clock.”  This was the third time and second person I explained it to.

“Huh,” she said, “I’ve never heard of that before.  Let me find someone to ask.”

My confidence in this being a simple task faded fast.

She got back on the phone.  “Is this a factory stock radio?”

“Yes,” I responded.

“That’s weird.  That shouldn’t happen.”

I decided not to tell her that according to the owner’s manual, that’s exactly what it needs.  Last night, I found a little blurb under the battery section but it didn’t give details.  It just says to reset the radio after installing a battery.  Installed battery?  Check.  Reset radio?  That’s why I’m calling you.

So, Felix, the Ford Explorer, has an appointment at 2:00 on Friday.  Too bad I’m not a betting person because then I’d start a pool of how much this is going to cost.  I’d have to win though because I have a feeling I’m going to need help paying the bill.