Thank you both, Hamster and Healing, for your replies. I was/am not looking for validation, but your responses are helpful, nonetheless. There was and has always been an element of insult coming from this man. It seems part of his persona to set me up for insult. I've experienced it more than once, owing it to what he perceives as my treating him badly. I naively thought an honest letter about my intentions when I was young would elicit a meaningful dialogue with him. This is the risk in trying to make amends. I accept that.
In the perspective of life, this is not important. The man has lived his entire life in a shallow existence...We are both in our 60's. I've married, raised a daughter, lived thru an unhappy marriage, worked to achieve my independence from that, worked as a teacher and an artist, strived to be self-sufficient financially (which I am). This man cannot empathize with any of my experiences because he has spent his entire life indulging himself alone. Why I thought my communication to him would be meaningful, now I see was a waste. I only felt badly because he was so
attached and insistent toward me when I wanted to end the relationship...truly obsessed. None of my friends could tolerate him. Even back then he was so offensive in his behavior.
I guess I thought he might have evolved to become a better human being...NOT!