Hi, What're you doing?

[AuntPeggy]

My kids always start a cell phone conversation with this question instead of, "Hi, Mom, I'm calling to ask for a favor."

Is this question a new standard like the old fashioned "Hi, how're you doin?" which is really rhetorical?

I never really know what is expected for an answer. Today I said, "I'm just finishing up lunch with a bite of soda bread." That doesn't feel like what they expect to hear. What am I expected to say?

 

[Jim Logajan]

P.S. I'm also hitting the age where every once in a while I get, "I have cancer" in response to that damned "How are you?" question.

And it's ****ing me off. F*** cancer.

Another friend diagnosed last week. Stage 1 breast cancer.

At least that's one of the types that lots of folks successfully beat. Damn it.

I've got a friend I've known for over thirty years - but as often happens in life, we only touch base now maybe once a year, if that. He is always the one to call and our phone conversations always seem to start the same, him starting:
"DUDE!"
"Dude! What the hell is new?"
Two years ago he replied:
"Got diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer. What's new with you?"
A year later I get another call:
"DUDE!"
"Dude! You're still alive! What the hell is new?"
"I got married. I got pictures of the wife and kid - I'll email you."
Like flipping through a series of photos in an album. Never quite sure whether you're looking at the last photo until you've turned the page.