I wish I could find a nice fedora -- not Indiana Jones (Bogart maybe). Then I'd have something on my head I could tip or doff. Why? Because I'd like to have a means of showing respect to strangers on the street and doffing one's hat (though somewhat dated, I admit) is the only really graceful gesture I know of that might work.
Recently I was on my harried way to a Public Defender seminar (also meant for investigators, like me) and passed an elderly gentleman on the sidewalk. He had to have been late 80s, early 90s with a back bent somewhere between 45 and 90 degrees. He was a small man with healthy complexion, bright eyes, neatly dressed, and wearing a snap-brimmed cap. As we were about to pass each other, he said 'good morning.' It was heart-felt, simple, and genuine. I said 'good morning' back and hurried on my way. I felt kind of insincere and regretted that I had simply echoed back his own words.
This venerable gent deserved better. At least I could have said "good morning, sir." This caused me to wonder if other cultures provide gestures for such a moment -- maybe in Japan (for instance) one stops and bows in a certain way that acknowledges and offers recognition to such an obviously accomplished person.
