I have been tall since the sixth grade. I remember looking down at boys and liking that feeling of being able to make them feel awkward. But a tall girl was like the plague – avoid coming into contact at all costs. But I liked being tall. Now I am not as tall as my grandmother, who towered over everyone at 6 feet, but my dream height was always one inch shy of six feet. But alas, my mother married a man of the arts and not of the heights. Made it to 5’ 8 1 /2” by sixth grade. Spent the rest of school in the last row of any and every picture of any group from then on. Esme and me – the Amazon Girls. Once we drew pictures during chorus and I got kicked out. Esme left with me because she felt it wasn’t fair. She was drawing also, but she was better behaved. Tall girls stick together.
I loved to wear heels that made my calves ache – for more attention. My height gave me the added attention and I liked the air up there. My posture was great and I could hear my godmother say: “Bosoms out to the world.” It is just so much fun being tall.
In 1993 I was in a nasty car accident. Lost my nose, cheek bone and my eye orbit was crushed. Not the look of a cover girl, but I had wonderful doctors who put Humpty Dumpty Cassidy back together again. I had a long thin nose. I liked to think of it as a beautiful mix of English and Italian craftsmanship at its best. In its place was the carbon copy of a perky and cute sweet sixteen year old’s nose. To know me is to know that I shun being perky and cute. I miss my nose. When I am in pictures with my siblings, my nose comes up short. I remember pulling at it as if that would work. My nose was my favorite facial feature. say that 3 times fast.
Last year I went in for my yearly check up. At my gynecologist’s office this nasty, bitchy whatever tells me to get on the scale so she can weigh me and take my height. Honestly, I know both. Not good enough for Satan’s child and when she takes my height I asked what it is. She walked away. You don’t do that to me. I can throw a life threatening look in front of you or behind your back. Pick one. I asked again and she said, “65 and ¾ inches.” This is when being awake during math class could have helped.
65 and ¾ inches. I am stunned and I don’t believe it for one minute. I started to tell her that something is wrong. I am 5’ 8 1/2” but she ignored me. This is when I regret being a strong supporter of gun control. I gave up on her and prayed to the karma goddess to kick her to the curb later on. So I can run over her. Several times.
My doctor came in and she said she can measure me again. Not a problem. I stand up like the proud tall woman I am and she says, “You’re 5’6.” I am saying “WTF” about 300 times under my breath. I am shocked and slightly horrified.
Back in her office she checked my bone density results and I have a little loss in my hips. 2 bloody inches of bone lost I asked. it’s called Osteopenia and I hate the name and what it is doing to my body. Her recommendations to slow it down – calcium and vitamin D3- yes, it’s D3.
Being tall and having my long thin nose are becoming just a memory. I told my family so that they can take more calcium with the D3 and so that they can make their daughters aware of this problem that took my grandmother from a 6 foot tall woman (like I said – we grow them tall) to looking like a circle because her body caved in.
I don’t think that is going to happen to me. In fact, I will not let it happen to me. I am not going to walk around with my knuckles scarping on the wood floor. I might have evolved from the ape, but it’s not a look I plan on adopting. Banana, anyone?
I got to make a joke because I am freaked out. So take it from me- take calcium and vitamin D3. Check with your doctor to see how much.
I’m shrinking.
An update: I recently went back to my doctor for my annual checkup. I was terrified about getting my height taken again. But, I am happy to say that I am 5’8”. I did lose a half of an inch to the bone loss gods, but I think stretching, walking, determination and calcium with vitamin D3 helped. Let’s put it this way – I am not complaining. Well, I am about my weight but that is a whole different blog.
Another Update: Went back to my doctor and I am now 5’ 6”. Next year, I plan on being 6’9”.
Stay tuned.
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I am behind on my HWT reading and just saw this post. I, too was diagnosed with osteopenia (last year, at age 61), mine in the lower back. So I have upped the calcium, Vitamin D and magnesium. I have always been very active but needed to add more strength training to my exercise regimen. I just wish I had bone density tests more often as I might have caught it sooner; it had been several years since I had one.
Also, women who take Synthroid for low thyroid as I do, be sure and get your thyroid levels checked at least yearly. Too much thyroid medication can eat at your bones, as can sodas and of course, smoking. I have not been measure for height in ages. Guess I should do that and see if I am still 5′ 9″.
I’ve always been OK with being tall, but at times in my life, there seemed not to be enough tall men around! That time is past now, and I have a good, tall hubby. When I lived in NYC briefly after college, I think that being tall helped me not to feel fearful, to walk tall and feel less intimidated. Ya gotta develop street smarts in NYC, tall or short!
My mother is vvery bent over, but she’s 93. I would have smacked that nurse, and yes I slept through math too, not my best subject. Lovve the humor you were able to inject into this.
I can’t afford to ever lose a few inches from my height. I’m only 5’0″ 🙁
If you don’t already know about http://www.vitacost.com, you should. Amazing savings on supplements and much much more. Excellent customer service. I get my calcium and D3 drops there-check out “Bone Up” for calcium (made by Jarrow). Supposedly actually gets absorbed into our bones better than some other types-perhaps you already know all of this. I have a few friends who are health gurus now after going through adrenal fatigue, Ostopenia, and the like. I like your nose, and I’m sure I would have loved your original one too! You rock, at any age, any physical iteration of yourself. Celebrate yourself thoroughly today my friend!
OK. You’re on, sister. Let’s try some positive self-talk for a week. I’m game.
Me,too! Let the self love games begin!
Kay- most doctors I spoke to say add D3 to your calcium. It has been frustrating to lose a few inches because pants are now too long. and what I weighed at 5″8″ does not work for me at 5′ 6″ – but you already know that. 🙂
Yes … I know that, but we love you, 20 extra pounds and all. Oops. My faux pas. Haha. If you think an extra 20 pounds are bad on a “tall” 5’6″+ frame, imagine how dumpy it looks on a 5’2″ (moi) frame. Oh well, I look in the mirror and tell myself I’m gorgeous anyway.
Not true. I lie. I look in the mirror and my self-talk is horrid. But I’m thinking positive, so I pretend I tell myself that. If you can follow this thread of musings, you’re good!
Kay – I love the line about what you say to yourself. Let’s try it for a week and see what happens. And I did follow your musings. Great minds think a like.
Fascinating story, Elizabeth. Funny, too. I’m shrinking, also. I’ve never been statuesque like you, but in my crowning glory I was 5′ 3-1/4″ … now I’m only 5’2″. Calcium & D3 for me!
Really, did your really stretch yourself back to 5’8″?
Wow, what an accident you were in to have your face messed up like that. Your poor mother. She’s been through the mill with her kids!