For the past couple of years, I’ve had a secret handshake with Joshua and Abby Kate. I guess it’s not really “secret” or else I wouldn’t be posting it out here for all of cyberspace to read about. It’s really pretty simple, and I have no idea how it originated, but the kids love it. Here are the three basic steps to the Bybee handshake:

1. We begin with a “gimme five” of the generic, waist-level type. Occasionally, when the situation warrants it, we’ll modify this to a high-five, but those are few and far between. And only one person gives the five. No need for the partner to reciprocate.
2. Step 2 involves the action that is alternately referred to as “knuckles”, “props”, “pound it”, “fist bump”, or (if you’re Stuart Scott) “handpounds”. (Whatever happened to him anyway? I never see him on SportsCenter anymore.) As the diagram to the right clearly indicates, this particular act (we prefer to call it “knuckles”) is performed when each party raises a fist and, with knuckles aligned, the fists “bump” or “pound”. The Bybees tend to be purists when it comes to this particular hand gyration. No “blowing it up”; no follow-up web of interlocking fingers and sideways jabs. Just knuckles. That’s it.
3. Step 3 is perhaps the most curious element of the Bybee handshake. Upon the immediate withdrawal of fists from the “knuckles” position, each party extends the index finger from the same hand that just “pounded it”, points to the other party and, with near fever pitch exuberance, yells “AWESOME!!!” Step 3 also requires raised eyebrows and a ridiculously wide grin.

Anyway, I share all of this with you because tonight was a big night. Tonight Jackson participated in his first official Bybee handshake. We’ve been giving five for several months now, but he’s now learned the art of knuckles (“nuk” as he calls it) and the finger point. Tonight we combined all three elements; Jackson is officially a Bybee now.

And the circle is now complete.