And look, young children, young folks, I don’t care what it is; you always have a respect to your father and mother. I think one of the awfulest things that I can hear little children say, or young folks, “the old man” and “old woman.” Listen. That’s not the “old man” and “old woman”; that’s your daddy and mother. And someday, when you see them going out of the room head first, and the wheels beneath the casket, squeaking, you’ll know it isn’t the “old man” or “old woman” then. That’s right. You hear the preacher say, “Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust,” you realize the best friend you ever had on earth is going down. The trouble of it is, you learn too late. Don’t weep, and cry then, and send lots of flowers, give them to them now. Be a good boy or good girl.

Life Story, 1951-04-15, Phoenix, AZ, §18