Dick Cavett recalls John Cheever being on his show:
"He said he had asked his children to let him know if he began to show signs of decline. But instead of “show signs of decline” or “begin to fall apart” or “start slowing down” or “lose my grip,” he said, “I’ve made my children promise to tell me immediately when I begin to shed my leaves.”"
Isn't that beautiful? "I've made my children promise to tell me immediately when I begin to shed my leaves."