Chicken Rustler, I think you learned the most important lesson that can be learned in life.
It is so important to say the words of love, and pride, and respect that we feel for people. We need to speak our gratitude and give our apologies,... those words make some people so uncomfortable they turn on their heals and walk away instead of letting themselves feel the least bit vulnerable.
I have never understood why saying kind words are so painful for some people, and violent or angry words flow so easily.
A few years ago someone mentioned the saying" you can either be a good example or a horrible warning"
I realized that I learned my lessons by horrible warnings.
A kind word never killed anyone.
(Of course, I am still waiting... if they cough one up and keel over, I will retract that statement
)
It doesn't have to be anything more than a
on a computer screen to let people know that you are thinking about them.
Life gets complicated, but as you have found out, it doesn't take much to brighten someones day.