Living Life as a Yet – Part II

Down in front Giant Man, I'm trying to see the natural wonder!

This is a continuation of my complaints for being oversized in an undersized world. (See Part I for the beginning of this list.)

6) When I mow our grass with a standard push mower, I tower over the little machine. The handle doesn’t even adjust up to the height I need. I end up looking like I’m pushing around one of those toy plastic mowers that shoot bubbles out the side. (my neighbors have joyfully made comments about it).

7) “One size fits all” – seriously??? Not even close. That’s just the manufacturer’s way of not having additional setup costs to produce several different sizes and possibly one size that would actually fit me.

8) I enjoy visiting go-cart/putt putt establishments. The main problem I have with them though is that they don’t have a go-cart or putter that accommodates the length of my body. When I am driving a go-cart, I look like one of those clowns in the parade that drives around in the miniature car. I also feel like I am in stirrups with my knees jutting up on both sides of the steering wheel (for the record, I have not physically been in stirrups). As far as the putter, the ones they have available aren’t long enough for me to have a natural stance to excel in my tapping of the golf ball. Because of this, I’m sure I have developed an awkward stance that has probably added to both my score and my lower back pain. It has limited me from being able to join the PPA (Professional Putters Association).

9) Pictures would be another area where the tall get discriminated against. I can’t remember a photo where I have been in any other place but the back row. There are also people who enjoy getting their picture taken next to a tall person. I would like to think that it is for precious memories. However, in the back of my mind, I know that it must be so they can have their “freak of nature” picture. They can actually take home proof of how tall I am and they have a natural comparison with them being in the picture. (Once again, I’m not a freak of nature.)

10) For most people, items that hang down from ceilings in stores and restaurants are high enough to allow for free walking. However, for me it becomes a game of “Dodge the Merchandise/Advertisement”. The other people I am with can enjoy their shopping/dining experience and look at everything with full focus. I, on the other hand, have to constantly look around to make sure I’m not going to come face to face with a dangling sign or glass candle holder. The severity of this problem increases exponentially with knick knack stores in quaint “Little House on the Prairie” towns that have totally gone commercial with shops and stores. They are trying to maximize their selling space while invading my rights to be able to roam free.


To be continued…

Living Life as a Yet – Part I

Living large means standing above the crowd.

Most of us have certain traits that make us special and unique. One of mine is living life large. By large, I’m talking about the physical height and size of my body. I’ve had to endure a lifetime of living taller than most, which has put me in several circumstances where being tall is a disadvantage. Below is a list of small grievances.

1) Most of the time when I go in a restroom, I find that the mirrors have been installed at an elevation for an “average height” person. I normally get to see what I look like from the chin down because the mirrors are not tall enough or the top of the mirror is set at a lower level than what I need. I usually have to lean over to see what’s going on with my Yet style hair.

2) Also in the bathroom, at my height, those partitions that are suppose to give privacy for others don’t really do their job when the urinal is positioned right next to a stall. It’s difficult for me to use the urinal when I can see someone sitting in the stall with my peripheral vision. I don’t dare do a full look (see bathroom etiquette blog). It throws off all concentration.

3) Another thing that amazes me is that I get used as a human fork lift. When I walk through stores, I get asked by customers to get stuff down from top shelves all the time. I don’t work for the store nor do I want the lawsuit when the item slips out of my “oversized” hands and hits you on the head.

4) That brings me to another topic - my “oversized” hands. People are in awe at the difference in size of my hands compared to theirs. They have me do the old “put your hands up to mine” routine. They are amazed to the point of doing everything but calling me a freak of nature (I’m not a freak of nature). I mean come on…look at how much taller I am than you. It is a proportion thing. My hands will be larger than yours. If they weren’t, I would be so out of proportion that I would look like a freak of nature.

5) Something else that’s not convenient is seating space at sporting events, movies, airplanes, etc... Seating space for my long legs is a premium. I usually have to swing my legs to the side so that I fit in the space between my seat and the seat in front of me. However, when I swing my legs to the side, I take up space for the person sitting next to me. If I am sitting next to a friend on one side and a stranger on the other, I will swing my legs towards my friend. Sorry, it’s the price you pay for associating with me. I usually try and snag an isle seat if I have a choice so I can swing my legs out. But then by doing that, I usually end up getting my feet stepped on or worse yet, accidentally tripping someone as they walk past.

To be continued…