Nice compliment, but HUH? The last time someone used the adjectives cute and little to describe was.......NEVER! Weighing in at a whopping 9 pounds 11 oz at birth, I'm pretty sure 'cute and little' were never said to my mother about her newborn baby. More like, "How did you birth that monster??"
I admit I've always had issues with my size. I was always the 'tall girl' in every class at school. And usually, taller than any boys, at least until about 10th grade. I towered over most of my dates. I would never wear heels because they made me feel like an Amazon. To this day, I'm still quite uncomfortable wearing them. And I'm not even THAT tall......about 5'9". And I consider myself of average build. Not big by any means, but certainly not supermodel skinny.
However, for some reason, there are those who never see me this way, and I'm uncertain as to why. My MIL has bought me clothes in the petite section. Even my husband was like, "WTH? You are not petite!" An online friend wanted to exchange photos about five years ago. When I sent mine to her, she e-mailed back, "You are so tiny!!!!" This shocked me. I e-mailed her back with, "What are you talking about? Can't you see how tall I am??" Of course, the riddle was solved when she e-mailed me her photo and I was even more shocked by her size. Sadly, the words 'morbidly obese' came to mind.
Then there is the clothing issue. For years, I was a size 10. I've maintained the same weight for the past 25 years. However, today I wear a size 6. There has definitely been a gradual shift in the sizes, at least in America. When I worked retail in the 1980's, we never even carried a size 0. Now I see that size all the time. I'm waiting for negative numbers to appear on the shelves.
Now if only shoe manufacturers would join the club! I'm seriously tired of wearing size 10 clodhoppers. I want to wear a cute little size 6 shoe!
Okay, first I have to say that this is just toooooooooo ironic you posted something on the movie, "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" because when I was down in Florida back in November, my brother and I watched that film on cable. I LOVE that movie! And you're like the ONLY person I ever met who even heard of it. Lily Tomlin is hysterical!
ReplyDelete"I admit I've always had issues with my size. I was always the 'tall girl' in every class at school."
And I have the opposite issue because I'm small in stature, therefore, I can never find clothes and shoes to fit me in the men's department. Most of the time I buy my clothes in the young men's department because they're the only clothes that will fit me. My shoe size is 7 1/2 or 8, so a store will usually run out of my size quickly because they hardly carry shoes that small.
"However, today I wear a size 6."
Well, they do say that we get smaller with age. And god help me because if I get any smaller, I have to wear BARBIE clothes - HA!
Great post, my friend!
X
I only saw the movie once, but I do remember it. And funny that in all the photos you've posted, I've never once thought of you as being short. You look normal to me, Ron! And hey, if you shop in Young Men's, you are looking sharp, for sure!
DeleteYou know, I don't even know Jen's dress size. An 8-10, I think, but I'm not sure. She tells me that, the more 'upscale' the store, the smaller the dress sizes. She has swapped clothes with a friend whose husband is a surgeon, and found herself in a size 2. . .
ReplyDelete5-9 is tallish for a woman, but hardly Amazonian. I know a few women taller than 6 feet (one of 'em is married to a 5-5 guy). One of my aunts was 5-11, and back in the 30s/40s, that was really tall for a woman. But yeah, it would've been about 10th grade or so before most of the boys caught up to ya. . . One of the disappointments of my young life was that I stalled out at 5-11, and never made 6 feet. But I do have a 6-1 son. . .
Craig! You're here! I agree with Jen that upscale shops do downsize, but I shop at Kohls, so they are doing it too!
DeleteI was just under 5 lbs. when my mom brought me home from the hospital but I've made up for that, and then some, over the years. Seems I'm taking on the figure of an aunt or two. Short and fat. lol
ReplyDeleteI wore heels when I was younger but then hated them for many years. I'm wearing them again, for a little added height but nothing too crazy, maybe 3" or so.
Nice compliment. People see us differently than we see ourselves or they just want to be nice.
I cannot imagine wearing a 3 inch heel. I'd probably fall down. Yes, I do think people see us differently than we see ourselves, and hopefully in a better light!
ReplyDeleteWell, I wouldn't call you tiny simply because you would tower over me. I always thought I was 5'5" but recently I was standing up next to a tape measure thing on the wall and I think I must be shrinking. :( I didn't realize I was old enough to shrink yet. Boo.
ReplyDeleteI think we are always hardest on ourselves. I think strangers view us with kinder eyes.
Now I want you to post a pic of yourself! :)
Maybe I REALLY am shrinking! This year is a big birthday milestone for me. Double Boo! I'm on my iPod right now, but I will send you a photo from my regular computer later.
DeleteMy wife and I are often amused by the incredible variances in how women's clothing and shoes are sized (at least how they're labeled).. she has a couple pairs of pants that are both the same size, according to the size label; one, are too big, and the other, too small.
ReplyDeleteFunny part, is that both are similar style from the same maker- just purchased a few years apart.
There are times when it's a LOT easier, to be male!
Yes, they do keep changing. No sooner do I find a brand of jeans that fit, then they change and suddenly, nothing fits. Very frustrating.
DeleteSo enjoyed this. We are a lot alike in height and show sizes, I'm a few sizes above you in clothes, but not too many. I stopped growing in the eighth grade at 5 feet 8 inches; all the other girls were 5 feet 3, 5 feet 2, etc. But here's the funny thing too, my MIL used to buy me petite sizes too. I think she was petite so she thought everyone else was :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Lol on the MIL! I stopped growing in 8th grade too. One of my daughters is short, about 5'3". And she hates it. I always tell her she's sweet and petite.
DeleteJenny tells me that petite doesn't actually mean small as I'd always assumed, but a certain type of body with a long torso and short legs. Though it sounds as if you have long legs as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat gets me about clothes is that even if they're supposedly the same size, I always have to try them on because the actual size can vary enormously.
Well, my middle child wears petites and she definitely has a long torso and short legs, so I concur with Jenny on that. But she is only 5'3".
DeleteI hear ya! I'm 5' 9" and definitely a few sizes bigger than you. Never was the tiny girl, although no one ever told me I was either. LOL
ReplyDeleteOn the shoe thing, I was an 8-1/2 until I started having kids. My feet grew one half of a size with each one. Which is why there is no child #3. HA!
Wow! Another tall girl. I didn't realize that about you. Although I have to admit, I do think of tall people when I think of Texas! And I would have died if my foot grew any bigger than a size 10. Talk about no shoe choices!
DeleteHi Bijoux,
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure that you felt a bit like getting microscopic and disappearing after that remark!
It is pretty hard for most human beings NOT to judge. We all go through this torture in school. I no longer think about everything that I was called as a kid (includes 4 eyes and shy) but can remember a lot of it!
When are we as human beings going to talk about the good things on the inside of each person? To tell someone " I love your good cheer" or " you are courageous".
Like Bijoux is a warm and fun person to know.
That one is a "size fits all" :)
X
Thanks so much, Barb! Your kind words mean a lot!
DeleteIt so interesting to compare how different people perceive us.
ReplyDeleteMy feet started out as a reasonable 7- 7 1/2. Then I had a kid and they grew, then I had another kid and these days I seem to be firmly entrenched in the size 9 aisle. And we are not even going to discuss what they did to my waistline!
It's always strange to find out that someone sees you so differently than you see yourself.
Deletewhat's funny is i have had a number of online pals tell me they assume i am tall and then they find out otherwise and are shocked. but hey, i say run with the "cute little figure" comment. take the compliments when they come!
ReplyDeleteFunny you should say that, because I DO believe you are tall!
DeleteBeing six feet tall myself, and Jenny being only 5'6", I also steer well clear of high heels....
ReplyDeleteGood to hear!
DeleteWell, from the couple pics I've seen I'd say you are adorable.
ReplyDeleteAnd tall women are the best. Queenie is a grand 5' 9" as well ...
Thanks, X! And I had no idea Queenie was a tall girl, too!
DeleteI agree with Michelle (Lime) Bijoux. Take the complements when they come. Unless the comments insult you it doesn't really matter huh? I am now 73 and have gone up two sizes in mens clothes in two years - NOT I hasten to add, because I am a gluttonous eater. I haven't put on excessive weight. I think it is age... - Dave
ReplyDeleteThis is not good news! I always thought folks got maker as they aged? At least in height.
DeleteI had such a slow growth rate that I hit high school at still under five feet and didn't hit my full height of 5'4" until my freshman year of college. But I absolutely hate the trend in clothing - they call it "vanity sizing." What it means for me, though, is that now they often don't offer my size except in the Juniors section. It's maddening. I always wore size 5 jeans and now I have to buy 1s. For professional clothes, I have to buy the smallest size skirts and have them taken in. That's just nuts. But I don't see shoe sizes changing - I wear the same 6 or 6 1/2 I always have.
ReplyDeleteI have been desperate enough to look in the Juniors section........freaking nightmare! If you are a size 1 now, I guess this means you'll be a negative 3 in a few years!
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