The Slice: Perhaps a wink and a smile would do

In the matter of what to say after “Happy New Year!” passes its use-by date …

“I really think it would be cool if people would say ‘Smile’ instead of all the other options,” wrote Marilyn Othmer. “A smile always makes someone happy, even a stranger. Well, just my idea for changing facial expressions on the many, many folks walking around looking like they are mad at the world.”

Thoughts?

I want to go on record as saying I adore Marilyn. I have felt that way for years.

But I’m not sure all of us prone to good-natured glowering as our default expression would respond well to being told to smile.

Parking lots and character: Barb Beck’s husband had driven their custom ’92 Corvette to the store. When he was done with his shopping and came back outside he saw a woman standing next to the car. She had run into it with her vehicle.

“The damage to the Vette was minimal and Vinnie found a way to touch it up. But the one nice thing was the lady stayed with the car and didn’t just run off. There are some good people in this world.”

Jeff Nadeau once emerged from Ferris High School after a day of teaching and found a note on his car’s windshield. It was from a teenage driver who had run into Nadeau’s vehicle. The note provided a name and phone number.

“I called the number and talked to the boy and his father. His dad said the boy wanted to pay for the repairs himself.”

And that is what he did.

Said Nadeau, “It was a wonderful thing for a cynical old fart like me to experience.”

Empire strikes back: “Not too long ago, I asked you why Inland Empire was morphing into Inland Northwest, and you provided a most reasoned answer,” wrote Peter Yocom. “Now you’re wondering how long reference to the Inland Empire might be made. Well, there will be an Inland Empire and reference to it as long as my wife and I live in it!”

Today’s Slice question: How did you deal with it when an uninvited individual literally would not keep his or her hands off you?