hi, how are you?

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When people kindly ask me how I am I do the decent and polite thing; I say Fine, thank you. Oftentimes, I add that other polite and decent thing. And you? Why do people then give me their whole medical and personal history? Do I have a face that screams, I know there must be something not fine, tell me ... tell me NOW!!! Oh, I've had a painful right hip for the last week. I went to the doctor and the physiotherapist. I have exercises to do. I don't know how I did it. Maybe it was when I went shopping and bought heavy items. I'm on codeine. I have wonderful friends, and they're all offering to drive me to the supermarket next time I go. But I don't want to put them out. Unless they're going anyway. Anyway, must go. Bye, she said. And then I get really frustrated. If I'd wanted to know all this I would have asked something more specific, like I see you're hobbling. Have you hurt yourself. But I didn't ask that because it's the end of the day and I just want to go home. I'm exhausted. I've spent the day living in a soap opera of epic drama. Please, let me go. Next time this particular colleague asks how I am I shall give her the entire knee saga. That trump's her hip. But now, the bus is nearly at Bus Stop. Equilibrium is almost restored.