Don't explain the high-five

The high-five is an accepted form of communication, primarily in the congratulatory sense. Raising an arm and slapping hands with someone else is an action that displays and relays positive emotion. High-fives have their place. After a baseball player hits a home run and returns to the dugout, a high-five from teammates is perfectly fine. When someone gets good news, like an A on a test or a promotion at work, a high-five is in order. Unfortunately, the ubiquitous action can also be uber-corny. So here are some tips on avoiding high-five corniness: Don't yell "whoo hoo" when giving a high-five; don't jump toward the person you are high-fiving during the action, as it can lead to a loss of balance; don't make the high-five a high-ten, it's just too awkward; and please, please don't say "high-five" before, during or after the high-five. That's like saying "handshake" while shaking hands with someone. The high-five is such an important part of American culture that there is a move afoot (ironic) to give the hand gesture its own special day. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of it when it passed two weeks ago, but I'm hoping next year to celebrate National High Five Day, which apparently has been around since 2002. I would have bought a card for my wife had I known that this special day occurred on the third Thursday of April. Or at least given her a high-five.