Sad People: Dead at 25, Buried at 70

The store where I purchase rhinestones requires customers to take a number and wait to be called. I’ve come to know each of the sales clerks enough to make small talk and ask them how they’re doing.

In other words, I don’t just start with, “Let me see Swarovski, ss20’s in crystal volcano.”

The last time I was there I was being helped by the woman with whom I’m most familiar. I greeted her with a big smile and enthusiastically said, “How ya doing’?”

Most of us don’t think about our reply to this question. We impulsively respond with the generic,

• I’m fine
• I’m good
• I can’t complain etc.

However, this encounter was different.