Hello TrailRunner14: My wife & I have a small dog. We live in a townhome complex & have no fenced yard. So we're out taking him for long walks around the neighborhood at least twice a day... every day.

All sorts of things happen on these walks. Some people we pass say hello. Some say nothing. Occasionally someone makes some snide comment of one sort or another. Drivers try to run us down when we're trying to cross streets.

Personally, I'm pretty reclusive. I wear hats with brims I can use to shield my eyes from the glances of others. If the sun's out, I wear sunglasses. (Sometimes I wear them even if it's not.)

I don't know as I would say your response to this incident is irrational. Maybe you're a bit over-sensitive. But maybe not either. It all sounds innocent enough. But, on the other hand, I do know these sorts of things can just feel a bit unnerving. I think the important thing though is to get back out there. If you do, after a while the memory of this particular experience will fade. The longer you wait, the more difficult it is likely to be.