Interesting perspective, John. words always get in the way, but I think of "pretty good" as a noticeable notch above mediocrity. I suppose it depends on whether you think of yourself negatively because you're not "great," then "pretty good" is self-diminishing. If the emphasis is in on the "good" in pretty good, you can be thankful for the gifts that you have without measuring them against those who are more gifted. I agree completely that if you measure yourself against those who have more, "pretty good" is faint damnation. My father would always say that he was doing "pretty good" because he saw those around him who had far less, and he was thankful for what he had.

"Poor to great" is not only in the eye of the beholder, it's captive to the fashions of the moment.

Thanks for your response..

Jerry