So most people who know me know that I have a tendency to overanalyze things. That said, has anyone else ever thought about the greetings that we give each other during special events such as birthdays, anniversaries and (particularly this time of year) holidays? We say things like “happy birthday” or “merry xmas” or “happy new year” … but are we really saying anything? Sure it’s the thought that counts, but grammatically, these are really incomplete thoughts. A noun preceded by an adjective does not a thought make (man, my grammar teachers would have a field day with that sentence ironically enough). Everyone would agree that “cordless phone”, “blue diamonds” and “purple horseshoes” are phrases that do not make sense by themselves. So in my own weird way, I usually try to extend the normally used phrases into complete sentences: “Hope you have a happy birthday” or “Have a great new year”. Still, when I have to think fast, I admit that I go with the shortened form. I guess in this fast-paced world of portable yogurt and drive-thru liquor stores, it’s too much to ask to take the time to form a complete sentence. I mean, you wouldn’t say to your friend “Great trip!” before they go on vacation, would you? Or tell your girlfriend “Red rose!” on Valentine’s Day and expect her to understand?