Visitation

When the Patriarch of a large clan passes, the visitation is more in the line of a county fair. Dozens of simultaneous conversations, between relatives, and friends of relatives. Friends, who are there to give support the living and reconnect with other friends, engaged in conversations that are not directly germane to the deceased but often give a deeper meaning to the occasion...

"They were married 50 years..."

"The time of being married should be measured by all the partners you live with.."

"You mean, not just the first, or the longest?"

"Well, it shouldn't matter- if asked, just say, for example: 'I've been married 45 years', you don't have to specify to whom..."

"I guess that makes sense, you could say that the state of being married has its own qualities, regardless of the individuals involved..."

"You could wear a pin, with a number on it?"

"Like a recovering alcoholic?"