hey - how you?

so, you're walking own the hall, and you see someone coming the other way, and you have a solid 7-10 seconds to get ready to say hello. where i work, it usually goes something like this -

person 1: hey!
person 2: hey - how you?
person 1: good - you?
person 2: pretty good.

you'll occasionally get some variations in the person 1 answer. such as -

person 1: hey!
person 2: hey - how you?
person 1: fine - you?
OR
person 1: wonderful - you?
OR
person 1: so far, so good - you?
OR
person 1: doin' allright - you?

but, there are always a few original types in the bunch. there's one guy who always manages to be person 1, does not say hey, and always answers - copacetic. right, big guy. whatevs. i mean, he clearly thinks he is unique & fresh, but it is only tired.

person 1: hello.
person 2: hey - how you?
person 1: copacetic.
person 2: uh....

see, he does not ask how you are doing & simply leaves you with is copacetic. uh-huh, okay, fine. there are a few people who delightfully answer thusly:

person 1: hey!
person 2: hey - how you?
person 1: better than i deserve!!!
person 2: uh....

they clearly are channelling dave ramsey, and just as clearly, they shut down the response by not asking back. the phrase better than i deserve!!! is annoying enough when ol' dave delivers it, but when the amateurs chime in, it's just pathetic. take my advice & do not borry this phrase. stick with the classics. you can be pretty good, okay, wonderful, fine. you can be doin' good, glad it's friday, allright, or even undecided if you have not had your coffee yet.

on the other hand, you are welcome to be completely fresh & original. tell me you are fresh as a daisy, glad it's monday, keeping secrets, high on life, even feelin' groovy. today, i had a convo with a coworker that went like this:

him: hey!
me: hey - how you?
him: cool.
me: uh....

but, not a bad uh...., more of a good uh..... more like, a surprised uh..... i did manage to smile, too, despite my surprise, b/c i thought it was a worthy response. now, this guy's direct coworkers might have heard his cool one too many times, but to me, it was market fresh & delicious.