Pauses in one's speech can add drama to the message one is trying to convey, but be careful where you put those pauses! Here are a couple of panicked moments I've had due to wrong placements of pauses:
Asking a dad about his pregnant daughter who visited over the weekend from out of state, he replied:
"Over the weekend, she lost ... [Oh, no! Not the baby!] some time visiting with family and friends helping her sister-in-law's get ready for the wedding."
Asking a co-worker about a cancerous patch of skin she had on her face, she replied:
Seriously, people! Watch where you pause! You're giving me heart attacks."Yeah, the doctor gave me three weeks ... [WHAT? To live?] before I have to see him again."
