Something about this time of the year makes me giggle a little inside. For the next month or so, everyone -- and I mean everyone -- offers each other heartfelt wishes for a Happy New Year.

I noticed it last night at bowling. No less than a dozen people approached me and said, "Happy New Year." And I said it, too, amidst a lot of superfluous hand-shaking with people I see every week. Unlike so many phrases tossed around without any discretion, I got the sense that people really mean it.

It's a really nice gesture.

But why?

What does it really mean? It's not like telling someone to have a nice day. It's not like wishing someone a Merry Christmas. I think it's more about celebrating the start of an arbitrary period of 365 days, though there's barely even an implied verb in the phrase, so I'm not sure if the actual phrase should be extended to, "Have a Happy New Year."

Again, I'm not complaining, because I think it's great when acquaintances offer each other a few kind words. I'd like to see more of it. I'm just trying to get to the bottom of what they're trying to say.

Maybe it's expressing relief that we made it through another year, unscathed. But that implies that we're just living day-to-day, trying to keep on keepin' on. Seems to be sort of a medieval mentality, doesn't it?

Maybe it's expressing hope for a better year to come. Like, "May this new year bring success and happiness to you and yours." That I could understand. But it's a lot to infer from three words, "Happy New Year."

Maybe it doesn't mean anything at all, and is just a filler phrase, like "how's it going," "at the end of the day" or "when you get right down to it ..."

I remember last year, running into someone in the middle of February, and I found myself short on small talk and unwilling to start a real conversation. I actually said, "Hey, Happy New Year" -- to which both of us shot back puzzled looks. I think he stammered a "thank you" while I skulked away, wondering what just came out of my mouth.

There must be a statute of limitations on how long you can drop that phrase into conversation. I think this year I'll try to push it into March ...

Of course, I'm probably just overthinking it. People tell me I have a tendency to do that.

Regardless ... Happy New Year, Milwaukee. I love your sincerity, I just don't totally get the message.