n most weekdays between roughly mid-April and late October (depending on our season here in Idaho Falls), I ride the same motorcycle to work that I’ve been riding for over 20 years. With nearly 50,000 miles on the odometer, I guess it’s now in the vintage category, but it still looks good to me and it runs great. On occasion, I take my children for rides in the evenings or on the weekends and one of the first things I taught them when they were old enough to ride along – besides how to not burn themselves on the exhaust pipes when getting off the bike – is the responsibility of my passengers to wave to other motorcycles when we’re out. Most bikers wave back, and I like the bond it creates, letting others know we’re watching out for each other.
Waving, of course, is not isolated to just motorcycle riders. I see it with people driving Corvettes, Jeeps, and on the water with boaters. In most cases, I would bet those waving to each other are complete strangers who have probably never even met. Yet because they share a common interest while cruising in the same brand of boat or driving the same type of vehicle, they’re compelled to wave to each other, and I think it’s great. On my boat, we like to wave to all boaters, regardless of the brand.
If you spend much time traveling to other cities in the U.S., you’ve most likely come to appreciate the small-town vibe of Idaho Falls, despite a population of over 60,000 people. I love that our community is friendly and willing to say hi to each other when out for a walk. Those friendly gestures reflect the citizens here, who I believe truly care about one another. It goes beyond a quick wave or a friendly smile; the residents of Idaho Falls stop to help if something’s wrong. The community-minded people here will do what they can to help you when you’re in a bad situation. In other cities you’d probably just get a blaring horn instead.
Camaraderie here is something I truly appreciate. A quick stroll around the Greenbelt reveals it—a wave, or a head nod. Small gestures like these embody what we need amid today’s chaos.
For years, I’ve boasted to other that the citizens in Idaho Falls are some of the nicest and friendliest people you’ll meet. I’ve been on both sides of a car rescue—and if you haven’t had a similar experience, you just haven’t lived here long enough.
I’ve been broken down in desperate need of a tow, and I’ve also been coasting on fumes on my motorcycle, knowing I had no realistic shot of reaching a gas station in time. In both situations, a complete stranger came to my rescue, and after his good deed, I never saw him again.
On the flip side, I’ve jumped out of my truck to help push a vehicle off the road that had broken down more times than I can count. I once rescued a young couple in a sunken canoe on Gem Lake. I have also jumped my share of dead batteries in the Walmart parking lot, just to name a few examples.
No I’m not trying to brag. The point is, no matter how much we plan, there will be times we all need help. That’s why it’s important to pay it forward and help others while you’re waiting for your own time of need to arrive. This is what makes us Idaho Falls and that’s why I love living here.