Honks for the Boys (07/09/2026)

There’s a lot of construction in our area, after all, it is summer in Wisconsin. As I was out and about, on a road being used by several large rigs, I noticed something – several boys, standing by the roadside together, looking up and down the road in both directions. It took me a few moments to realize what they were up to, and then I heard the honk and saw them literally jumping for joy. They were watching for trucks. And when a truck approached, all raised their arms with clenched fists and pumped them up and down. And the trucker responded with a blast of his horn.

I pulled over on the side of the road and watched for a while. The boys working together to gain the rewarding honks from the truckers. And I watched the truckers, too. I am not sure who was most happy – the boys who were rewarded with the honks or the truckers whose day was punctuated by these appreciative lads.

I imagine that encountering someone who was so elated to see you and so eager for your greeting would make a trucker’s day. It would not only break up the monotony but also spice up the chore.

I spent a lot of time reflecting on the simple exercise of cooperation, the boys vigilantly watching for trucks coming from all directions and then as a team gesturing to the truckers, and the truckers responding to the silent pleas, many with an extra honk or an extended honk. Our world could use such cooperation elsewhere.

What if we all spent time watching for others who can share what they have to make a difference? What if we all responded as generously when asked to share what we have, to do what we specifically can do? Oh, can you imagine how our world could be different, would be different?

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.