"Hate you! I think of you every time I look at the hand painted candlesticks on my table that you made for us, or the bark box I put my favorite buttons in that you brought me back from Russia. I love you!!"

 

Many of us are inclined to staple ill meaning to small infractions. One time I passed a woman in the hall while she was listening to her daughter and when I said hello she did not respond. She was even frowning. My mind leaped to reasons she was annoyed at me, and I pictured the irrevocable and sudden demise of our decade long relationship.  Finally I packed together a bundle of courage, like so many twigs, and asked her.

"Oh, I kind of remember that. My daughter was telling me about her problems with another kid and I was worried about how to help her. We are still friends!" We went out for lunch to solidify the deal, and caught up on each other's lives.