“The mournful whistle of a distant locomotive recalls to my ear the murmuring of countless springs, the sighing of pines, and all those indescribable sounds of nature which awaken the soul and transport it to distant scenes of childhood and early love.” – Mark Twain.

First, a confession. Ever since I was a child, I have loved to wave at trains as they zoom by—some long with heavy cargo on their way to market and others short, supporting commuters on their way to or from work. My morning walk tends to be in a park close to me, and one of the reasons is that it is on the train route. During rush hour, trains pass every 30 minutes, so the odds are good for me to see one.

This morning, I took Stella for a longer walk as on Thursdays, I head over to my niece’s house to spend time with her and her 10-month-old little boy. In addition to my many other cherished activities and interactions, the universe has given me a trifecta gift. Volunteering at the local shelter to support Sunday dinners, spending a couple of afternoons weekly visiting and/or helping with activities at the local nursing home, and finally, getting an infusion of youthful energy when spending time with my niece. What a rich life I have been lucky enough to live.

On this day, Stella and I headed to the park’s far side and meandered our way past the dog play area, the bridge with the dam, and finally over the tracks. At this point, I heard the train whistle just leaving the northern station and knew that if I walked the road beside the tracks, it would pass me within minutes. As it got closer, I turned to face its engine and reached out my hand for a friendly morning wave, and that was when the miracle happened.

The engineer tapped their whistle twice, and a reciprocal wave came out of the window. What an incredible moment! A faceless human, a hand, and a tap were all that was needed for our connection to occur. I like to believe the feeling of joy was mutual. I carried on with my walk with a new pep in my step. How simple.

In a previous blog, I talked about acknowledging people I meet while walking. I like to extend this same greeting to the people who keep the world moving, from the nicest days when I am envious of their outdoor function to the most horrific storms when I am grateful that it is not me out there. Whether it be sanitation, mail, bus, or road workers, a small gesture lets them know I appreciate what they do.

My retirement will see me continuing to broadcast these little positive signals, hoping that the recipients may, in turn, extend their love outward, realizing that what we give is what we receive, and who doesn’t want a little more kindness in the world?