One of the stories I like telling is the year our central air-conditioning broke. It was late in the summer heading into fall anyway so we didn't replace it right away. My wife regaled us with stories of how she never had air conditioning growing up and that we really didn't need such luxury. So needless to say she was against replacing it. The following summer approached, the kids were young, and we planned a start of the summer dinner party for friends. The day of the party, a Saturday, was abnormally the hottest day of the year. The kids were miserable and our guests could not wait to get into their air conditioned cars and go back to their air conditioned homes. Sunday morning, my wife made one phone call. By the time I got home Monday afternoon, the new air conditioning was installed and running. no questions asked.