it kinda sums up what an odd pair Fletch and I are, from an aesthetic point of view at least!It's something that hasn't gone unnoticed by those around us and had been commented on in mirth frequently, physically we are two extremes and the sight of us next to one another is I suppose quite amusing!Why? Well, he is well over six foot tall while I barely scramble to five foot and am about level with his elbows, he has loooong flowing curly locks, I have short cropped very un-flowing hair, he is built like a strapping rugby player and over twice my body weight, (oopss, did I just say that in an out loud voice?) whilst I am pathetically small in build.... and he has feet the size of landing barges (no coarseness please) while mine still fit readily into children's shoes!
Yeah, ok, I can see why people laugh!
On a more serious note though it is quite a revelation to someone like myself who is small. Small people get used to being walked into on the pavement, to being overlooked in queues, to not being able to get served at a bar because the staff just don't see you there. We get used to being the one who has to move out of the way because passers by look straight over our heads and to feeling pretty vulnerable in a physical sense.
The revelation is this this and something we short people just don't imagine; None of that happens if I'm with Fletch. We get served at a bar in an instant, no-one walks into us, we can make it in a straight line along a street without being barged out of the way and no-one gives us any kind of aggravation! It's all pretty peculiar to me, who for instance if a drink is spilled onto me barely gets noticed let alone an apology, whereas if it happens when I'm with Fletch, profuse apologies are always forthcoming!
Being big it seems carries with it some degree of presence and respect, whilst being little makes one almost invisible.
13 Comments:
Hang on to him then!
ps. try being in a wheelchair; then you are totally invisible.
Respect ? Not sure.
Presence ? Definitely.
A big guy, like you describe, will scare the bejesus out of anyone.
My US friend has a BIG hubby and when we were all in London together, sitting down at an outside cafe, we were being bothered by a beggar who was on the brink of turning nasty when I refused him any money. Hubby slowly stood up and the beggar broke the world sprint record.
I guess the modern 'rap' use of the word 'respect' might be true too !
Elaine: I intend too!
The chair....I did, for a day once when I worked at a hospital as part of an 'access' experiment to try to experience just what you are talking about.....and you are so right, not only was the access issue appalling but so were the 'invisible' and 'does she take sugar' issues. It was a fair few years ago and I hope things have improved but I fear they probably haven't much! :o/
Silverback: Lol @ the beggar!...and yes, I think you are right on the 'respect' thing, it's not true respect maybe, more an odd kind of 'respect' borne of fear.
Here, i wish you bloody poms would come to Oz and get some colour in you!! ;o)
Michell: Lol..I would only get a melanoma or something...those feet haven't seen the sun in years! We take 'caucasian' to the extreme! heh.
I have a big boy too. He's 6'1 - and strong. I love them that way. :)
Big blokes are great aren't they :)
Gosh thanks, Kitty ;-)
I agree with the wheelchair thing! Thanks for the visit, I'm glad you were amused! Call back.
That's a very sweet picture! I imagine he makes you feel safe, too, huh?
My SIL is tiny, too, and has been made angry on numerous occasions by being overlooked and ignored. Luckily she has a big personality to make up for it! LOL!
Being 6' 2" myself I can see the benefits too. I have been married to a woman who was 5' 1" and she always claimed that she was invisible unless I was around.
She used to drive a Mini Cooper and claimed that it was painted with paint that made it invisible. One time whilst I was driving it some lunatic decided to hurl themselves out of their car as we were parking and was advancing on us shouting quite unsportsmanlike abuse. I parked and got out calmly, carefully unfolding myself from the diddy driving seat. Funny how their problem seems to evaporate when faced with a "large" skinhead with a grumpy face and tattoos instead of the dinky little woman he was expecting.
Bulldog describes me as looking like a Linebacker. :-)
LOL at the drink spilling.. It's funny that being tall can make other people fearful they're going to get their butts kicked.
My SIL is about your size. I bet she has all the same problems.
I'm glad I'm big, then. I had no idea that smaller people had such problems.
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