A few days after Christmas an elderly man in Phoenix calls his son in New York and says, I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough!

Pop, what are you talking about, the son screams?

Well you haven't been around to see how bad things have become between your mother and me. We can't stand the sight of each other any longer the old man says. We are sick and tired of each other, and Im sick of talking about this, and we are going to start the New Year out right. You call your sister in Chicago and tell her and he hangs up.

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.

Like heck they are getting a divorce, she shouts. Ill take care of this.

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at the old man, You are NOT getting divorced! Don't do a single thing until I get there. Im calling my brother back and well both be there tomorrow. Until then don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME? And she hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone, smiles and turns to his wife. They are finally able to make a trip to visit and will be here for New Years and paying their own way.