But Why Do I Have To Be Tall?!

by Paula
(Alabama)

Thinking back to my earliest memories I know that there was someone there asking that all too often question-"How tall are you?" So many times it was someone that was morbidly obese and I, in turn,wanted to answer and ask- "5'10" and how much do you weigh?". It seemed like such a personal question to me-like someone was invading my space. Yet others thought it quite normal.

I still vividly remember the days that my 'difference' became very apparent. First off,I must tell you that I was the baby of 4 girls. My oldest sister was entering college when I was born and the third was a GOOD 10 years older than I. I was my mother's favorite and all of my sisters will attest to that. I think she (my mother) felt she had to shelter me somewhat--not just because I was ALWAYS the tallest kid in my class (at least through 5Th grade) but because I was the only one of her children who had not grown up with Dad in the house. (Boy,did I have the deck stacked in my favor!)

But back to the reason that I am writing (typing). I can remember being 12 years old and at the summer fair in Gulf Shores, AL -- yes, I am a tall southern belle, or, as they say in Texas, "one tall drink of water." My niece, who was just 4 years younger, (and what seemed like 4 feet shorter) and I were at the fair together. We wanted to ride the children's Farris wheel (I am a child, correct? 12 and under). The man (or stupid teen) operating the Farris wheel would not let me ride with my niece. I would have to ride the ADULT RIDES! As always, I cried and my mother, bless her heart, went crazy. That poor kid, he didn't know what hit him when she was through. Are you getting the picture?


These types of situations, all handled in a very embarrassing and tack-less manner by my beloved mother, were quite numerous through the years. I remained, pretty much, a wallflower. Then came college. I remember the most beautiful lady I think I had ever seen came to my high school and talk about going to an 'all girls' college in Mississippi. I remember overhearing the 'popular girls' (all 5'4" and under) snickering under their breath in the meeting. There was no way they were going to consider a university with no boys! This was like manna from heaven for me! Where do I sign?!

So off I went to the girls college in Mississippi. I just wanted to be surrounded by girls (hopefully there would be more like me) and no boys around to accentuate the height difference. I would stay in my own little world and no one would notice me. But a funny thing happened on the way to the farm. I had changed a little that summer before my freshman year in college. The braces were gone and the skin had cleared up. There was an oh so ever slight indentation around my midsection.

My mother had insisted that I take ALL of my Pappagallo attire and put them on like regal splendor to attend the 'Social Club' parties. This was a Women's University attempt at the Sorority life. I had promised my well-meaning mother that, yes, I would give this foreign type of existence a try. I went to the first round of 14. The next morning I had 14 invitations under my door and my roommate, so sweet and smart AND SMALL, had only 4! This, 'Tall Women of America', was the beginning of my rebirth!

In the famous words of Forrest Gump (written by Winston Groom who happens to live just a few miles down the road):

"And that's all I have to say about that!"