Am I that insensitive? Have I no feelings at all?

Mr Neil Gaiman, who's journal I have followed on and off for years, has just posted this entry, and quite rightly so. He also declared, at about the same time on Twitter, "No twittering for a few days, I think. Everything's a bit raw." His father died suddenly at the end of last week.
Whilst I myself sent my condolences via a quick Twitter this morning, I hope that all his loyal fans will understand and allow him the peace and quiet he deserves over the next wee while, to be with his family and come to terms with the empty space that there will be now.

Ok, so people die all the time, from one cause or another, but it affects you in so many different ways. It's sad that the policeman and soldiers died in Northern Ireland over the last couple of days, for no fault of their own, doing their job. That's also very maddening and needless. But at the same time, I have no real feelings on the matter, other than it being a stupid waste of life and the hope that it doesn't kick off into something much nastier. Yes it's head-in-the-sand time on issues like this.

I have a work friend who had a really good friend die a couple of weeks ago, plus another friend's partner's mum died at about the same time and I keep asking myself
"How do you deal with things like this?"
"What do you honestly say, that sounds genuine, not clichéd and conveys the real meaning that you are truly sorry for their loss?"
I just don't know.
I've seen two grandparents die and the affect it had on my parents, I've seen the affect a partners grandparent passing away had on the people involved and I've seen the affect a really good friend's mum, and friend of mine also, had but inside I don't seem to feel much at all.

Perhaps it's just because I've not been in the position of having an immediate blood relative pass away, however I still get the feeling that whilst I may feel sad, I won't be that affected by it all.
This, of course, remains to be seen.

My personal, genuine and deepest sympathy to NG and family, to AF for her friend, and to TH for her mum. May you remember your departed ones with fondness, both good and bad times but always with a smile on your lips. Sincerely, JS.