The One Finger Salute

I was driving in southern MN a few years back and discovered a little road gesture that was only shared by males and that was only displayed from their moving vehicles.
NO NOT THAT ONE

It really was a beautiful day with the sun streaming in the windows and farmland as far as the eye could see. I won't lie, I can't pinpoint wheat from alfalfa or from young corn - I had to be schooled on what was out there. So there we were driving these slow country roads and being a curious person (that is often rewarded) I did my usual thing of checking out the approaching car, then checking out the driver and all the occupants. In my years of living in Richfield and then in St. Cloud, I had great luck seeing people I knew in all those cars, so it became my M.O.

Well on this day as I'm minding my own business I see this truck advancing towards me and just as we're abreast of each other he gives me the finger.
NO NOT THAT ONE

He ever so casually raises his right index finger in the air and then quickly flips it down. What was this? I'd been flipped off but in a new way??? My co-pilot in the car explained that it was a MN-Nice thing, it was a farm family thing, maybe even a secret code among those in the know.......well that's going too far. Heck, the guy was saying Hello! Well wasn't that special? I had to try it out for myself. The next 3 cars that were coming in the distance towards me were going to get my new one finger salute.
NO NOT THAT ONE

It is a sweet country thing. I love to do it now and in the instant that you start saluting it's funny how quickly they salute right back to you. Oh it made my day to somehow break the barrier and find myself in this secret world of driving salutation. With the migration of farmers up to the cities over the years, I find I can play my little driving hello game with older male drivers in the metro. They seem to be clued in, they know the move, and sure enough they smile big after - pleased to find another driver in the know.