This is the Moth Radio Hour, and I'm Suzanne Rust.
In this hour, stories about big reveals we'll be hearing from a young girl who discovers both her fragility and her strength.
A reluctant middle school thespian and a woman with a rather curious hobby.
Sometimes it's good to start things at the ending.
In this case, someone else's ending.
Linda King told this story at a slam in New York City, where we partner with public radio station wnyc.
Here's Linda live at the Moth.
Well, good evening, all.
You know, it may be hard for some of you to believe, but I love a good wake.
Funerals, not so much too much standing and kneeling and moaning and mumbling, but a good wake.
You walk in, you sign the book at the back, you proceed to the front.
You offer your sympathy to those on the first row.
You view the deceased for maybe 15 seconds or so, turn around and proceed to the rear, where you get to catch up with all the people you haven't seen since the last wake.
Now, I was parked across the street from Mackin's Funeral Home in Island Park.
Their lot did not have one single space available.
They're the kind of place that has two, maybe three rooms, and they can have multiple bereavements at the same time.
I was here because my friend Hilda's husband had died.
Now, notice I said died, not passed.
People die.
Kidney stones passed, if you're lucky.