Not being average is a strange place to be sometimes. I’d like to say being really tall puts me on the extraordinary side of the bell curve, but I don’t think stature really works that way. Well, unless you are the president of the United States – they are always tall!

In school I remember being in the back row in every single class photograph. I was always last in line when we arranged ourselves shortest to tallest. And, I often had to remind people how old I was – as did my mother. “Really, she is only nine!”

Being tall and being a natural observer has put me in some amusing situation. On more than one occasion a sales clerk, while busy with my transaction, has handed me change and said, “Have a nice day, SIR!” I always laugh when that happens because when I respond in my feminine, “thank you, you too,” the sales clerk is startled, embarrassed and apologizes profusely. I find this quite amusing.

One day while shopping at the grocery store a sweet, elderly lady looked up at me and asked if I could help her reach a top shelf with her favorite canned vegetable on it. I was clearly the answer to her prayers that day in aisle 7. The item was on sale, so she needed a dozen cans and couldn’t reach. I giggled and asked if she could help me reach the flour on the bottom shelf. She winked back at me.

Being very tall also means having larger than average feet. My response to this has always been, “well, if they were any smaller I’d surely tip over!” I am forever grateful to Nordstrom Rack for carrying women’s shoes up the ungodly size of 14. TWO whole sizes larger than my enormous paws! One day while shopping the sale rack for shoes, a salesperson came by and asked if I needed any help. I giggled as I perused all the 12DDDD crazy wide shoes. I am a 12narrow, which is usually available in three varieties – flat, ugly, or transvestite blingy!  Without thinking I said (out loud), “I feel like I’m shopping in the tranny aisle!” She, of course, gasped and giggled right along with me. When I was a kid I threatened to wear shoe boxes on my feet!

Common misconceptions about being really tall busted! No, the air is not cleaner up here. No, I cannot wear anything (most stuff off the rack is too short) – however I can wear Target t-shirts, flip flops and cropped jeans like no one’s business! No, I am not a fast walker, runner or biker. Actually I am crazy slow. No, my husband is not crazy tall too; he is just my height (actually a smidge shorter). Yes, I can gain five pound without anyone knowing – well my mother and I always can tell!

Many folks I come in contact with say, “wow, how tall are you?” I know they mean it as a complement; otherwise they’d snicker, point and scurry away! My response lately has been, “very!” This is usually followed by, “you are so lucky!” I think to myself, the grass is always green on the other side of the fence my dear. My dream as a seventh grader was to be 5’7” – I was already pushing passed 5’8”.

As expected I also have tall children. My daughter asked me why we are so tall. Without going into the complexities of DNA and Northern European heritage I simply said, because the world would be boring if we were all the same. She agreed! We held hands, walked to the bus stop and I reminded a child there that, yes, she is really only 9!

So lucky my family knows I love old, sparkly pins!

The entire gallery can be seen at the following slide show link:
barn study slideshow

Whenever I take a photograph I always think to myself, “why?” or “what story does this tell?” I am fairly certain this barn has many, many stories deep in each layer of paint.

While photographing I stirred up a family of morning doves and rabbits — felt a bit haunted as just one more dove would flutter out of a nook or cranny.

I will be posting the entire gallery from my adventure — keep an eye out!