An Apology – From a Height
by Kym on October 26, 2008
I went grocery shopping yesterday. It was the sort of trip that started with the intention of grabbing a few staples; bread, milk, some fruit&veg…and ended with an overflowing cart full. Despite the fact we left for an overnight trip this afternoon. Nothing quite so brilliant as stuffing your fridge full of food right before you leave and aren’t able to eat any of it.
As always, my sense of timing in life is ultimately flawed.
Still, it was a good thing I hung about as I, the simple, the mere, Kim VanderHorst, saved the day. Oh yes. You see, there was this wee little woman trying to grab a loaf of bread from the top shelf, but most of the loaves had been grabbed up already and the only ones left were way at the back. She had her foot on the bottom shelf, and her chin reaching to clear the top shelf as her little arms flailed about trying to reach.
And you would have thought she was invisible for all the eye contact people were making. Oi.
So I stepped on over and reached her down a loaf, smiling benignly from my gargantuan height of five foot eight and three quarters. It was a bit strange to me to be enjoying my height, as I’ve been cringing away from it most of my life. I actually have rounded shoulders from years and years of slouching and shrugging about, desperately attempting to be inconspicuous.
Which of course never worked because there’s nothing quite so obvious as someone obviously trying not to be. Rather sad, really.
Anyway, I wore high heels to church today, and as I strode down the hallway at one point I realized something quite amazing. I wasn’t slouching. And I was enjoying it.
Wow.
Too bad I didn’t have more time to strut my stuff though as immediately after church we hopped in the car and drove three and a half hours North to visit Neil’s aunt. I’m writing from the hotel room. Writing an inane post about how good it feels to not want to slouch anymore so that I can tack this last bit on at the very end…
Haven’t read any blogs for about three days now. Life = Insane. Me = Similar. Hoping to catch up on Tuesday. Also hoping to see through the insanity and actually enjoy living for a couple days. I don’t handle last minuteness, travel, or too many things on my rapidly spinning plates very well and all seem to have converged at once here. But I’m traveling with my sweetheart and my darling girls. We have some great time to spend together. We went swimming tonight and it was lovely once I let the stress and paranoia (mostly) go. Here’s to keeping that up. Here’s to forgetting to slouch.
23 comments
You probably look like a total babe strutting your model heighth around church in heels with your non-slouching posture! And you have to know there are lots of jealous short women out there:)
Jen´s last blog post..Psychic Drawings and Sasquatch Sightings
by Jen on October 26, 2008 at 9:23 pm. #
You know what’s weird? If you asked me how tall I feel, I’d say 5’8″. I think I’m half-convinced I really am that tall. But really, I’m only 5’6″. Almost. My best friends have always been tall so that’s probably why I think I am, too. You know, how like some dogs think they’re people or whatnot because they hang around with them a lot.
Melanie J´s last blog post..Karma, baby.
by Melanie J on October 26, 2008 at 9:27 pm. #
Oops! Did you go shopping on an empty stomach? I have a rule: No shopping on an empty stomach, otherwise I come home and eat something then look at everything I bought and ask, “why?”
I wish my rounded shoulders could be fixed by a good deed and a pair of heels. *sigh*
Lisa´s last blog post..Part III: A Relationship with Some Long Distance Parts
by Lisa on October 26, 2008 at 10:13 pm. #
So very sweet of you! And don’t feel bad about your height! I’m 5’11. I don’t LOVE it but there are days when I feel pretty darn good about it ;) Plus people actually envy (though I don’t know WHY) girls with height…
Shanna´s last blog post..Game of Tag!
by Shanna on October 27, 2008 at 4:20 am. #
Strut it, baby!
So glad you’re getting a little time away!
I’m still reeling at the idea of you traveling 3.5 hours *north* .
Novembrance´s last blog post..Book Naming Contest!
by Novembrance on October 27, 2008 at 4:38 am. #
I slouch to the point of having rounded my shoulders too. I think it all began when I needed a bra in jr. high but was too afraid to ask my mom to take me shopping. You’d think she’s NOTICE…sheesh. So I tried to hide the goods by slouching. True story. :)
Heather of the EO´s last blog post..A Superhero from DeToilet and Other Good Stuff
by Heather of the EO on October 27, 2008 at 5:02 am. #
I’m 5’10, all my friends are shorter than me… I used to refuse to walk in the middle of them in High school because it made me feel abnormally tall.
So no more Slouching Kim!
Abra´s last blog post..POST OVERLOAD OVERLOAD OVERLOAD
by Abra on October 27, 2008 at 6:57 am. #
Ahh, I’m so glad that you could help the woman. I’d have had to go get somebody, or climb the shelves.
JustRandi´s last blog post..Friday Flair – I Heart Blog Friends
by JustRandi on October 27, 2008 at 7:40 am. #
No worries. I’m 5’7″ in a country where 5’3″ is TALL. I tower over everyone I know. But hey – we look really good in tailored pants! (P.S. I own several pairs of heels and FLAUNT it, baby!)
Rebecca – That Girl from Brazil´s last blog post..Never judge a girl by her bikini
by Rebecca - That Girl from Brazil on October 27, 2008 at 7:53 am. #
I’m amazed. Heels? I can’t pull it off.
Lisa Milton´s last blog post..random thoughts on a random monday
by Lisa Milton on October 27, 2008 at 8:55 am. #
I hear you. I’m 5’10′ and I’ve always sort of shied away from anything that made me stand out. Well being a head taller than everyone doesn’t help that much.
I hope you enjoy your trip.
by Deconstructing Jen on October 27, 2008 at 9:17 am. #
Hope your trip is great and I’m glad you can enjoy one more aspect of yourself that you’ve been hiding from for so many years! Happy days.
Oh, and swimming is always good-espeicially with the Neil man. He makes it great for everyone.
Eowyn´s last blog post..Only 2 Books!
by Eowyn on October 27, 2008 at 9:32 am. #
You HAVE to stand up straight in heels. You should wear them every day. Just not with blue jeans. Because while *I* think it would be cute, I imagine that *you* do not feel the same. LOL.
MomBabe´s last blog post..Cheese
by MomBabe on October 27, 2008 at 10:16 am. #
Oh I bet you looked fabulous in heights. I met up with Holl and Helen today and Helen is all tall and leggy and gorgeous and wore heely boots. I was so proud of her. Have a fab time all of you. Hugs.
Jo Beaufoix´s last blog post..The fun we had
by Jo Beaufoix on October 27, 2008 at 12:53 pm. #
I’m 5’8” and have always felt like this huge… thing. You’ve inspired me to embrace my towering stature. :)
by Becky on October 27, 2008 at 5:02 pm. #
How wonderful that you are getting a break! yay for you!
Heidi Ashworth´s last blog post..Laying Hands On The Young Miss
by Heidi Ashworth on October 27, 2008 at 7:29 pm. #
I wish I was tall like you. Alas, I’m more like the little woman you helped. I constantly ahve to stretch and tiptoe to get anything from the top shelves. I can’t even function in my kitchen without a step stool. So enjoy you model height and strut whenever you can. And enjoy the getaway trip with your fam! :-)
GrumpyAngel´s last blog post..Better Late Than Never On The Shout Outs
by GrumpyAngel on October 27, 2008 at 11:41 pm. #
I think the boy scouts should give you an honorary badge for public service to old ladies. :) I’m 5’9″ and happy to be the one who can always reach things for people.
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity´s last blog post..An award, a giveaway, and a cool quote
by Steph @ Diapers and Divinity on October 28, 2008 at 7:31 am. #
You see? God made you tall for a reason! Be proud!
Tristi Pinkston´s last blog post..Meet the Robinsons (2007)
by Tristi Pinkston on October 28, 2008 at 8:01 am. #
Hey I am five-eight too! We were meant to be friends! you are so good to help out when no one esle would.
by julie wright on October 28, 2008 at 8:36 am. #
else . . . really, I am a writer.
by julie wright on October 28, 2008 at 8:38 am. #
Yay for you!! I am hoping that my daughter inherits a bit of her dad’s height. I need someone else to get things down from those top shelves!!
by tracey on October 28, 2008 at 11:25 am. #
I’m sure you made that woman’s day. The lack of empathy in people today is sickening, I’m glad you did the right thing. And I share your sentiment about the height thing…I’m 5′ 9 1/2” ish, I’m a lot better about it than I used to be, but I still only wear flats. (especially now cause the bf is barely an inch taller than me, and he slouches like no other) I’m attempting to fix my posture though.
Jaina´s last blog post..Of Deserts and Dirt Bikes
by Jaina on November 6, 2008 at 4:45 pm. #