You know I’m a huge Jim Carrey fan and I’ve mentioned before that The Truman Show was one of my all-time favorite movies. In that flick, Truman’s signature sign-off was always, “If I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.” And he always said it with a smile, too. One of the most famous sign-offs was coined by Edward R. Murrow with his, “Good night, and good luck.” during World War II. The actor, Matthew McConaughey, is famous for saying, “Alright, alright, alright” in his heavy southern drawl. Even the lottery has its own tagline with, “You gotta be in it to win it.” Indeed.
Then there are funny one liners that everyone in America knows and adopts as their own. Vegas started this with their now infamous, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Yeah, we sure hope it does! I have one friend who leaves the room with her own “I’m Elvis” remark, as in Elvis has left the building, and another who ends a phone call by saying, “Ok, lemme let you go.”
When the internet boom started, I had a crazy friend who added the words “dot com” to every sentence, as in, “I’d love to see you later dot com” or “I love your outfit dot com.” It was funny for a hot minute. Then there’s the common practice of adding the words “in bed” to every fortune cookie note. “You will find love and happiness… in bed.” “Good luck awaits… in bed.” That little custom is still a giggle inducer for me.
Some negative Nancys adopt the “wouldda couldda shouldda” line that I’ve never ever liked. Or they comment on everything you say by adding… “If only…” The musical group Semisonic had it right when they sang, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” (A line from their hit song Closing Time.) And our pal Casey Kasem ended his American Top 40 radio broadcast every Sunday by saying, “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”
When Matty was a youngster he had a whole goodnight paragraph he used to say to me after I tucked him in but before I turned off the light. But his final words before he shouted, “love you!” were, “Good night at night!” He was always such a funny critter.
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