How are You?...

I've decided those three words are something else...We use them as a greeting. They are considered polite and nice and I would assume are meant to be used with sincerity. But so often I find that those three words are used a liitle too carelessly. Let me explain.
You see someone in a hurry, either you are in a hurry or they are, you wave across the way and say "Hi, How are you?" Do you really think they are going to stop and really tell you how they are doing? Do you really mean how are you...
Another example, I have been to the emergency room before, like a mother of all boys would expect to be at some point, and the first thing I hear from the nurse is "Hi, How are you today"
Sometimes it is all I have in me not to say the honest truth "My baby is screaming while standing in a crowded hospital room, with a child that has just fallen down and broken is arm, I have spaghetti all down my brand new pink shirt, the only pink thing in my house and my husband is on an overnight call for work...How are you?" But usually I smile and say "fine, thanks" and we go on with the real reason I am standing in the emergency room with a crying boy...
Point three and we all know we have been there done that...Is you use these words out of habit and some one you don't know very well breaks into a deep discussion about how their cat, that has been with them for the past 10 years, has suddenly been diagnosed with a rare form of cat cancer, but it's ok because the family will be coming from across town to keep them company as they decide what action should be taken. And it is a blessing because it has been two weeks since they have seen cousin Mertle from Springville and this is a great opportunity to get re-acquainted with them. But because we used those words we are bound to listen to them for the next 20 min.
I know we all use these words when we truly mean them, and I am NOT trying undermine that fact, but sometimes it just makes me laugh. Maybe they should come with a disclaimer.
Sometimes these posts are as pointless as the greeting but life goes on and I will continue to write pointless posts, once and a while, and to say the three words "How are you?" when maybe I should choose my words more carefully.