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December 13, 2004
The importance of saying “Hi!” (12-13-04)
Lily learned to wave last week. Her joy at being able to open and close her chubby baby hand was contagious. She watched herself, beaming in delight at that one simple action! At first it was a gesture with many meanings, requiring interpretation based on the context. Used at the dinner table it signs “more”; used in my lap it requests mama milk; and of course it is the universal baby hello and goodbye wave. In every context we responded eagerly to her gesture, smiling and saying the appropriate word and making the gesture in return.
Within a few days Lily seemed to realize that waving has the most power when paired with the word “Hi!” A smile, a wave, and a shriek that sounds like “Hi!” will get attention from anyone! Perfect strangers will grin at you and tell you “Hi!” The greatly-coveted cat will pause and look at you on her way across the room. Your big brother (otherwise known as the coolest person in your universe) will run around the room and tell you “Hi!” while he lavishes you with a hug or a kiss or a toy. And your mama and daddy will turn into smiling fools, walking in and out of the room time after time, just to see your face light up and to earn one more sweet little baby wave.
Just once, her wave and shriek of “Hi!” went unnoticed. At the coffee shop Lily sat on my lap and tried desperately to get the attention of the girl studying at the next table. The girl was immersed in her textbook and had headphones on to drown out the chit-chat; there was no way Lily’s little wave could get her attention. I noticed what Lily was doing and watched as her face grew serious and forlorn. She let out her “Hi!” shriek and still wasn’t rewarded. My heart broke a little. I fought the urge to tap the girl’s shoulder and say, can’t you see my adorable child is trying to say “Hi!” to you? Luckily my friend rescued us both by drawing Lily’s attention and gleefully returning her wave.
Have you ever noticed that “Hi!” is always said with a bright voice and a smile? Really, no matter how tired or sick or miserable, “Hi!” is a cheerful word. If there is no way to muster the enthusiasm for “Hi!” then it is replaced with the much more laid back “Hey.” It is easy, as I’m writing this, to assume a disaffected scowl and let out a long sigh and say “Hey.” Or I can come up with a sad “Hello” like the ever-gloomy Eeyore. But I cannot say, or even think, “Hi!” without a bit of a smile creeping to my lips.
So, to all of you… “Hi!” :D
Tara
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