This is not exactly related...but...last year my little dog (Sparky) died. When I returned to work and told people, they said, "Oh no! How sad! I've been through that, too! Did I tell you how awful it was when my dog/cat/turtle/snake died?" And then I sat, bug-eyed and stunned, while they described their experience in agonizing detail and I tried to appear to comfort them. Oh please oh please oh please shut up. Can't you tell I'm grieving? Please just give me some room here.

I had a friend years ago who would listen and only speak to clarify points, like, "So I think you said XYZ. Is that what you were saying?" Gosh. It made me feel so...so cared for and understood somehow.