On Being Tall

Here’s the thing about being tall, at least for me, it’s a bit hard to make friends and it’s only because most people can’t reach me. I mean the average height for a female is 5’6”, a Hispanic female I think averages more like at 5’3”. At least in my family, that’s about average. I’m not average. I’m about 4” above the American average and I’m a full 7” above family average. This wasn’t so much a problem as a kid, because I could often find older kids to befriend, or other freakishly tall girls. But then after puberty had its way with us, those other tall girls leveled out to the norm and I kept… on… going.

In high school, all I ever heard was “Stop slouching!” from my friends. To which I would always respond with “Then how am I going to hear what you’re saying?!” There is the common scene of a group of girls, huddled together, whispering secrets, giggling and bonding over crushes. I was the tall girl next to them, hunched over so that I could hear and participate. The boy situation then was a sad story too. The tall ones were upper class that didn’t date down, and boys on your grade were still waiting for their growth spurt. And when the few did get tall, they were often lanky too. Not that I was a slouch in the boy department. I just made do with the inventory available to me. When I was dating a shorter boy I’d just make sure to be sitting down when kissing, that way I wouldn’t have to crane my neck down. There’s a system to the strangest things when you’re tall, you’d be surprised.

As an adult I would often get comments from other women, presumably envying my height. “You’re so tall! It must be great to have those long legs!” You mean the legs no designer plans for when making pants? I guess lucky is one word for it. I actually had one colleague invite me to the drug store with her for lunch. And while I was new to the company, I thought it was a gesture of friendship and was quite excited. Then in the paper goods aisle, after asking me to reach the umpteenth item, she confessed she asked me to come so that I could reach the high shelf items. At that point, I’d pretty much figured. I laughed about it then, and I laugh about it now because she has now been my best friend for going on fifteen years, even if she is only 5’1”.

Has height been an issue for you? Would you befreind a tall person easily?