I have always just hung up without a word —

- except for the ones who begin "How are you?"; in which case I say, "Why, how kind of you to ask", and proceed to tell them, at some length & in considerable detail, about my arthritis, boil behind my ear, dental problems, anginal breathlessness, how I no longer suffer nearly as much from winter colds or summer allergies as I did when younger, &c &c: finishing up, "Thank you so much for calling to enquire about my health. I really do appreciate it. Goodbye".

Then I hang up...

≈M≈