Happy New Year! I must have heard that a half dozen times this morning. I used to think it was a simple exclamation good for only a few minutes after the clock struck midnight on December 31. Boy, was I wrong.
Last Friday, the drive-thru attendant at a local Wendy's wished me a happy new year as she handed me my son's dinner. This morning, six or so people greeted me that same way in rapid succession. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I figure that once the calendar shows January 2nd, we're back at "good morning" or "how you doing" rather than continuing to throw out that "happy new year" line.
Not that I'm complaining, per se. My response to the first and second greetings this morning was simply to repeat those very same words - happy new year. But I felt awkward. The next couple of greeters received a "same to you" in response. I think I then descended to "you to" or some such dismissive reply. Fortunately the greetings stopped before I dove further into "back at you" or "happy new year, my ass!".
I suppose I just need to give in to the popular lexicon and bring out the seasonal greetings myself. Let me be the first to wish you and yours a happy Martin Luther King, Jr. day!
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10 comments:
Interesting observation. I liken your comments to the Christmas season as well where greeters tend to use the generic "happy holidays" so as to not offend. I try to offer alternatives like "seasons happiness" or "holiday greetings" to passer-bys. Oftentimes, I will catch the overused phrasers with a double-take with the following dialogue:
"Hi, Fred, How are you?"
"Fine, how are you, Mr. Huge2U?
"Excruciating, how are you (I intentionally repeat"
After a puzzled look, I get "Fine?"
Then I respond with the ever likable: "Good, how are you?"
At this point, the recipient is usually looking a little confused and tends to walk away literally shaking his head, never to greet another soul with the same passionate enthusiasm again.
After all, this isn't brain science. . . or is that rocket surgery?
You know Sal, there are a few items in your comment that caught my attention. First of all, it is interesting how you seem to have the same nickname as my blogmate, "Mr. Huge2U".
Secondly, your use of the word "passer-bys" is right out of a conversation I had with my son just last week. The discussion centered around the plural of "passer-by" (there were several around us at the time) - my contention (correct, as it turns out) was that the plural was "passers-by"; he claimed "passer-bys".
Finally, just today I heard about a co-worker who described a movie as "volcanic". Sounds like a page right out of your greeting handbook. Maybe you know him - I think his nickname is "Mr. Tiny2U".
ever think that maybe your son and coworkers are just plain smarter than you?
No. But they are smarter than that Salutations Dali guy.
I resemble that remark
Parton my french!
Hello Dolly!
You're looking swell!
What a wonderful world!
What a wonderful world!
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