My longterm t DID laugh at me when i told her a story about a particular animal. I know my current would not laugh at any of our stories, even though he might interpret them the same way, which is that we identify with these animals. As you say above, we wont be greeted, we dont matter. But to whom?

You stated a horrible fact about your father. Does that still bother you? Or how have you resolved it? I think the feelings are entangled.