How are you? How are you doing? How have you been? What\u2019s new? What\u2019s up? This is how we greet each other. Sometimes we keep it simple and say, \u201cHi!\u201d or \u201cHello there.\u201d But for the most part, we stick with the commonly used \u201cHowdy-Dos.\u201d The only new one to come along, as far as I know, is, \u201cSUP,\u201d but young people mostly use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our responses to standard greetings are worn out too: \u201cGood\u201d \u2013 \u201cNot bad\u201d \u2013 \u201cSame-O, Same-O\u201d \u2013 \u201cSame stuff, different day\u201d \u2013 \u201cLiving the dream\u201d and the like. Or, we get creative and upbeat every once in a while, and say, \u201cGreat!\u201d \u2013 \u201cExcellent!\u201d \u2013 \u201cFantastic!\u201d But, the receivers of these upbeat responses don\u2019t buy it. Under their breath they are saying, \u201cBull!\u201d or \u201cGet real; your life\u2019s a mess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It gets old, this greeting and response routine. It needs new life – maybe some reality too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t ask me though; I don\u2019t know what to say in greeting or in response. Lately, I\u2019ve been swapping greetings between, \u201cHey John, how are you doing?\u201d (Using the person\u2019s name to prove I\u2019m not senile and hoping to heck I get it right.) And \u201cSUP?\u201d (With a smile, that is meant to mock the word.) My responses are lame too; I vacillate between \u2013 \u201cGood.\u201d (Spoken with an upbeat tone) and \u201cGreat!\u201d hoping firstly, it might be true, and secondly, it will be believed. Social greeting habits do change and evolve over time. When was the last time you heard, \u201cLook what the cat dragged in!\u201d \u2013 \u201cWhat\u2019s the good word?\u201d \u2013 \u201cLong time no see!\u201d \u2013 \u201cHey man!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This whole thing, our social greeting tradition, was a lot easier a century or so ago when society was more formal. Men tipped (doffed) their hats or simply said, \u201cGreetings.\u201d I heard a new one from Ray Moran, former owner of \u201cWhat\u2019s your Beef\u201d in Binghamton, N.Y. I said, \u201cHi Ray, how are you doing?\u201d He replied, \u201cEverything is cooperating today.\u201d I knew exactly what he meant, any old guy would. He was saying a lot, just using four words – \u201cMy back doesn\u2019t ache too bad today – Both of my knees are bending without too much cracking – My left shoulder is moveable – My stiff neck feels good enough for me to look to my left when I turn right on red (without having to stop).\u201d I\u2019m going to start using Ray\u2019s response, even though it will be as big a lie as when I say, \u201cFantastic!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n