Sincerity of Statements

I was talking recently in a group with some friends who were married a few months back and someone asked the typical newly married question, “so how’s married life?” What kind of a question is that? What are they going to say in a group setting, much less with their new spouse standing beside? Even if life is the worst it has ever been, the answer will be something like “every day is more beautiful than the last, it is like a sunny day on the beach eating fresh peaches and ice cream.” Ok, maybe not quite that cheesy, but it will be a glowing review. This got me thinking about the sincerity of that question and many other similar questions/statements people say to each other.

First a disclaimer. I’ve said most of the following stuff myself. I have never meant to be artificial or shallow when I’ve said it. I know we all say this stuff. I’m just being a bit sarcastic about it all. I’m sure most of these have been the fodder of many a stand up comic, but I wouldn’t know.

1) Say hi to __________ for me.

Come on. You don’t really want to say hi to that person. If you did, you’d pick up the phone and call them, you’d send them an email, or you’d stop by yourself. Furthermore, you know whoever you say this to most likely won’t deliver the message. Let’s be honest, this is an attempt to earn points with either the person you are asking to deliver the message or the person the message is being delivered to.

2) Does this ________ make me look fat?

“No, your lard makes you look fat.” You know if you are fat. Everyone else knows if you are fat. A piece of clothing won’t change people’s perception of your fatness, it will change how repulsed they are of your flaunting it.

3) How was your weekend?

Do you think most people who ask how your weekend was really care? Maybe. Or maybe they just want to appear friend and hate awkward silence.

4) Do you like it? (in reference to gifts)

Come on, do you really think they are going to tell you? They know what they want, not you. Give the person cash, let them give you cash. On second thought, skip the gifts all together and tell each other that you still like them. I thought it was the thought that counted anyway isn’t it? Or is that just talk?

Do you have any others?

Art Rediscovered

Last night I went to my first professional "showing" of an artist's work. I'm not one to seek out an event like this, however a friend had an extra ticket and invited me to come along. It was fascinating. The evening began with a near limitless supply of wine, beer, and bottled water. I'm not sure what it is about wine and art, but there was a lot of it flowing. There was time given to browse the work, talk to one another, and mellow out a bit. It was very relaxing. Those there reminded me much of my nights out in NYC, at least half of the people there were dressed in black, the other half in the latest designer clothing (as if I know something about fashion). In other words, not at all how I was dressed.

About a half hour into the showing the artist spoke to us about the work, pointed out many of the details and what he was going for in each painting, and other typical artist speak (you know: pallet this, conveying feeling with that). For some reason though the artist speak actually got to me. It actually made me appreciate the art more. I never thought it would. Maybe I'm getting soft, or maybe I never really thought about art in that way.

In any event, I'd recommend if you haven't been to an event like this to go at least once. It was a fantastic life experience and I feel like I've been exposed to another world I never knew existed.