with the events of this past week, i have become keenly aware of the frequent use of this phrase or one similar - have a good day, have a nice night, have a good weekend... i was counting the continual utterances, anticipating them even, when i finally gave up early on at number thirteen: have a good afternoon from the clerk at the florist's. i want to nose right up to those greeters and quietly reply that my mother has just passed away and to have a good day seems an impossible request just now, thank you very much. maybe private grief is not such a good thing. perhaps those folks with the black armbands were onto something.
13 September 2009
have a nice day
with the events of this past week, i have become keenly aware of the frequent use of this phrase or one similar - have a good day, have a nice night, have a good weekend... i was counting the continual utterances, anticipating them even, when i finally gave up early on at number thirteen: have a good afternoon from the clerk at the florist's. i want to nose right up to those greeters and quietly reply that my mother has just passed away and to have a good day seems an impossible request just now, thank you very much. maybe private grief is not such a good thing. perhaps those folks with the black armbands were onto something.
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4 comments:
sally was "MAD" in this weeks Sunday Peanut comics.. I wanted to sat ditto!
not sure why - but this makes me feel a little better...
i know exactly what you mean. there are so many times, but especially, when someone you love has died, that the phrase sounds so trite. my british friends thought the constant meaningless repition of "have a nice day" was the most ridiculous thing they had ever heard. and i agree. i'm so glad i don't have to listen to it all the time over here. joanna
My dad's usual quietly muttered response whenever he was chirped at by a clerk to "have a nice day" was "too late for that, now" or, if he was feeling especially irascible, "don't tell ME what to do!"
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