February 9, 2023

Exchange at the post office a short while ago:

Me: "How are you?"

Clerk: "Good, how you doing?"

Me: "Oh fine. I'm off for the next few days, so, you know..."

Clerk: "Well that's never bad."

Me: [nodding, then after a pause] "Unless you've been laid off or fired, I guess."

Clerk: "That lasts longer than a few days."

Me: [smiling] "True." Then after another pause: "I grew up in New England, and we're masters of understatement, so I'll chalk that comment up to that."