Like the song says...

I changed tables today at our annual Christmas lunch for retirees....
You force a smile and ask is the seat taken. If they say it is free you are happy to be welcomed but sad that you inadvertently pick the seat of a recently deceased friend. The closeness in the room is palpable as we went through tough times together and to a real extent all that life threw at us. We are each an infrequent shoulder to lean on and recognise the fact.....just saying