My talents as a nationally renowned researcher came to the surface once again last week. Harvard and Stanford are vying for my reputation and expertise.

I’m back on the road once more in Washoe Valley, Nevada, walking briskly (kind of) with my cane and little, red, bouncy ball. When cars or trucks come by, I stop walking and bouncing to smile and wave at them. My sample size (we researchers call that our N) in my 2-mile journey was 27 vehicles. Twenty-five of the 27 vehicles had at least one of the passengers wave back at me. One young man responded with his middle finger. I still counted it as a wave.

The concluding remarks of my forthcoming research paper state that if over 92% of drivers wave back at me, the answer to road rage is to offer a smile and a wave as we travel along the roadways. Displaying the red bouncy ball is optional.