The Morning Wave

When Mike and Mary Penich moved to Lake Bluff in the fall of 2021, they quickly became part of their grandsons’ school-day routine.

Their new home happened to sit along the elementary school bus route, so on the first morning after moving in, they stepped outside to wave as the bus passed. What began as a one-time greeting soon became a tradition.

Most mornings, Mike and Mary could be found at the end of their driveway waiting for the bus—sometimes with signs in hand. Even after route changes interrupted the ritual for a couple of years, they were back outside last school year.

For their grandsons, having Grandma and Grandpa just three blocks away comes with plenty of perks. But seeing them wave every morning may be the one they remember most.