His heart’s pumping all right. I couldn’t tell any difference. ~Charlie Brown
On Saturday afternoon, I decided to take a walk to the grocery store about 5 blocks from where I live. I would normally make this journey by car, but I thought what the heck, the walk would do me good.
When was about halfway there, I passed a man mowing the lawn in his front garden.
“Afternoon”, he said to me as I drew level with him.
It is an odd way of greeting someone don’t you agree? Announcing that it is the afternoon. Throwing a random fact at a complete stranger. It is like he is the town crier or perhaps he just wanted to remind me what time of day it is, in case I had forgotten.
Thinking about it, it is probably better than saying, “Good afternoon”. Who knows what kind of day the person you are speaking to may be having? One person’s idea of “good” is another one’s “bad”.
Perhaps on my way back I’ll just say “Groceries” or later on tonight I’ll go back to his house, knock on his door, and when he answers I’ll just say “Evening,” or “Night” or “The JSE industrial shares are up by 1%”. We could start a whole new trend.
The idea of greeting someone with only a single word actually appeals to me. I suppose the only thing more appealing than “Afternoon” would be to say “Day”. One random syllable. That would be ultra economical.
It would confuse the fuck out of whomever you are talking to. They may even start a rumour and say something like; “You know [K] who lives down the street? He has a bright future as a public speaker. He’s always so economical with words… gets right to the point”
So I said, “Afternoon” and continued on my way. He nodded and carried on mowing.
That right there is what I call connecting with people.
When out for a run or walk I never say “afternoon.” That’s because I always say “morning” — even if it’s afternoon. Then I say “d’oh!”
mmm… I dont find the actual greeting odd at all – but the fact that in this day and age a stranger still greets someone they dont know from a bar of soap – that’s a bit odd.
I’ve noticed that I have the misfortune to say “howzit” to anyone who makes eye contact with me… and that just opens a whole new can of worms!
I was surprised that people say ‘hi’ when passing strangers on a hike trail. in my country, a smile or a nod would do.
Andrea: Hah… I bet people look at you like you just dropped in from outer space.
“Hey, whose that blonde alien who just ran by?”
Tripeak: It is not just the “afternoon” that made me do a double-take. It is also how he said it… just a bland statement. No emotion. I initially thought he said, “mushroom”… which would have been a whole lot weirder.
EP: They probably mean “Eat my dust. I am a better hiker than you are” when they say hi.
I can totally buy that. Lol.
The Aussies have got it down pat. They say “G’Day!”. VERY ECONOMICAL!
A man of few words? You just turned a simple greeting into a blog post! LOL.
I think you should just be grateful the man acknowledged you at all. In this day and age no one says random hellos to anyone anymore. (God I am sounding like those people that start a sentence with ‘In my dayyyy’). If you get so much of a grunt in your direction, thank you lucky stars. You miserable git 🙂
Del: They’ve got some stiff opposition in the form of our very own “Howzit”
IB: You had to point out the obvious, didn’t you?
Sugar: You know what they say about misery… hehe. Just doing my bit for masakane.
Here it’s sort of rude if you don’t greet someone when you pass them in the street.
Not in Dublin city of course, but in the villages like the one where we live.
The favourite greeting is “How are ya” which, being the polite South African I was raised to be, never failed to elicit an “I’m fine, thanks and you?” from me when I first arrived.
It took a while (and many surprised looks in response) to figure out they’re not actually asking how I am; it’s just what is said.
Weird.
Be grateful he said something, these days you’re lucky if you even get looked at (unless it’s as a potential target for something!). Simple polietness seems to have died a death wherever you are in the world, which is a shame I think.
Me on the other hand, people can’t but help to talk at me. At a bus stop, train stattion, minding my own business in the street waiting for someone, wherever, I can almost guarantee that someone will come over and bug me (usually the local nutter).
And economy of greeting is great, just imagine if you had to say something along the lines of: “Oh yea, yonder sun doth shineth most gratifyingly on your visage this fine day”.
Arfternoon.
😉
lol @ “Oh yea, yonder sun doth shineth most gratifyingly on your visage this fine day”.
I reckon we should have a mini competition with the most outrageous greeting you can think off. My entry: “And as an angel ladde hym up and doun, thou est proclaimeth woth beaut skies prey upon us”
Chaucer and Shakespeare eat your heart out!!
Terri: Weird indeed. But then, we seem to be doing the same here lately. People ask how you are and don’t wait around for the response.
Kev: You should think about taking off that flashing sign that says, “talk to me”.
I would not mind saying, “Oh yea, yonder sun doth shineth most gratifyingly on your visage this fine day”. I doubt anyone would understand me… heheh.
Sugar: Nicely done. Chaucer and Shakespeare would be green with envy.
I have one too. Only I do not know how to put it in old/early modern English. May your day be filled with sunshine and warmth, from start to end filled with joy and happiness.