Hi Mark, > It is indeed. I am very blessed in this respect. It's interesting > how people treat you when you're going through a life-devastating > experience. You get to have a sense for the people who will > understand and accept your grief and the people who just can't deal > with it or hear about it. The latter group can include family & close > friends and you come to understand that it isn't that they care any > less for you. They just aren't equipped to handle it. I've known some people who are just cool or cold emotionally, but have been surprised to see some who seem the coldest be there in the biggest way when the chips are down. Also, sometimes friends or family can be so overwhelmed or preoccupied with their own private sorrows that their capacity or reserves for being there for others is simply depleted. It's funny - sometimes when I can't help but cry in front of someone, that person will also start to well up. When that happens I usually become distracted from my own pain and want to alleviate their pain. I recently lost my 13 year old cat. My boyfriend had been like a rock for me throughout but as soon as he heard me crying with my mother about it, he also broke down. At that point we decided it would be best to to go out for a few margaritas ;-) Kakki
