WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE PHRASE, "YOU'RE WELCOME" ?

SHORT RANT:  please indulge me.

Listening to today's podcast from the Mindfulness Summit, I heard people thanking each other endlessly.  In fact, I've noticed this phenomenon in every one of the podcasts, and I notice it everywhere on the street and in all conversations wherever I go.  Now, saying "thank you" is a basic life skill--reflecting awareness of all our reasons for gratitude, and then expressing our thanks to someone who has been kind to us. 

I'm totally into it. 

I'm not trying to change that; I'd like to see more people saying thanks.

Until, that is, it becomes an endless loop.  No one seems able to end these conversations, which run along the lines of:  "Thank you so much," (Person A), to which Person B responds, "And thank YOU for (fill in the blank)," to which Person A replies, "Oh, but really, what you have done is just so amazing I can't thank you enough..." and on and on it goes.  I catch myself doing this all the time--and hear others doing it consistently.  I never hear the "other response," EVER, anymore.

Could someone please, please, just take responsibility when thanked, for just replying, "You're welcome."  ???  End of the exchange!

It's almost as though we are afraid to be thanked.  Afraid of someone else's gratitude.  Afraid of being a Giver, and insistent on being the Recipient.  It's politeness reduced to mindless phrases, rather than a sincere meaningful exchange.

Just say, "You're welcome," for heaven's sake!  (I am addressing myself, as well as anyone else who cares to read this.)

OK, END OF RANT.
Thanks for listening.  (Assuming you did.)
And your response would be...
"You're welcome."
Phew.

On a less cranky and picky note:  I walked to the studio today to get myself out and moving, plus to drop off something for my studio roommate.  Once I got there I couldn't bring myself to just leave, so I put in another hour on the rug and finished the second long border. 

Yippee!  Now I have the two short borders to do, and then the final outside narrow border.

Next the finishing begins.  What's involved?  Steaming the rug.  Cutting away the extra fabric.  Zig-zagging around the edge so that it won't unravel.  Then binding it by hand.  A final thorough steaming.  Lastly, making and attaching a label. 

So there is still plenty of work ahead.  I love watching it take shape!