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About 30 years ago, my wife's family played their cousin's family in a softball game. It was supposed to be evenly split between male and female players on a team.

The other team was short a female player. I said, "it's ok, they have "Junior" playing for them." He wasn't a very good athlete.

Some of those family members still haven't forgiven that remark. It's been 30 years...if they haven't gotten over it by now, an apology from me won't do anything.

I grew up in a HH where my stepfather had a caustic wit. I was frequently a target, but I knew what he was doing, i.e. preparing me for the cold, cruel world. You know, the sticks and stones kind of thing. I never took it personally, though I've learned over the years a small minority agree with me.

In that regard, my daughter is on my side, especially when my wife gets mad at something I said, no matter how innocuous it seemed: "Mom needs to get over herself", or words to that effect.