I mean, these are all so true, but it bowls me over how often people approach me just for the fun of saying "You're so tall!" I used to say something snarky back, but I always ended up snapping on someone nice and well-meaning . . . like the time I gave some sassy remark to an old lady in Nordstrom who apologized profusely and said that she just wanted some help picking out a gift for her granddaughter, who she thought would be close to my age. I felt horrible! Who doesn't want to help that lady?
I've never been compelled to walk up to someone and just say "You are [fill in some very obvious physical characteristic here]," just to prove that I've observed said physical characteristic, so for the most part, I just wonder where these people possibly see the conversation going from there. (I think the closest group to understanding this is pregnant ladies -- from what my friends say, it sounds like they get all kinds of weird comments and rude stares.)
Now, I just say "that's true" in response to people who blurt out weird things, and give them a big blank stare and wait for them to say something else (except for little kids, who even I can't expect to know better -- I just tell them I drink lots of milk). No one ever seems to have a follow-up if I don't really react to them (though yesterday on my way to the dentist, after some older gentleman did this and I walked around the corner, I heard him shout, "You must be Swedish!" WHAT? All credit to my colorist for that one, because I am no natural blonde . . . nor, for the record, am I Scandinavian.) For the most part, people just look flustered -- and, I hope, get a little clue that they're being sort of rude. All without the guilt of being a smart ass to strangers. Everyone wins!
I've never been compelled to walk up to someone and just say "You are [fill in some very obvious physical characteristic here]," just to prove that I've observed said physical characteristic, so for the most part, I just wonder where these people possibly see the conversation going from there. (I think the closest group to understanding this is pregnant ladies -- from what my friends say, it sounds like they get all kinds of weird comments and rude stares.)
Now, I just say "that's true" in response to people who blurt out weird things, and give them a big blank stare and wait for them to say something else (except for little kids, who even I can't expect to know better -- I just tell them I drink lots of milk). No one ever seems to have a follow-up if I don't really react to them (though yesterday on my way to the dentist, after some older gentleman did this and I walked around the corner, I heard him shout, "You must be Swedish!" WHAT? All credit to my colorist for that one, because I am no natural blonde . . . nor, for the record, am I Scandinavian.) For the most part, people just look flustered -- and, I hope, get a little clue that they're being sort of rude. All without the guilt of being a smart ass to strangers. Everyone wins!
Hilarious comic by Doghouse Diaries, thanks to my funny mom. :)
5 comments:
Ha! Can you please start asking people if they play miniature golf? That would be amazing.
Thanks for the shout out! My goal is to make you look Swedish so goal accomplished! :)
Irene! Hilarious -- I'll be seeing you next week. Maybe we'll shoot for Norwegian?
Love the comic! I've been 6'2 since I was 13 and am pretty sure I've heard every comment in the book these past 18 years. I agree that it's odd that strangers think it's acceptable to comment on height. Thankfully, I love being tall so the comments don't bother me as much as they would if I hated my height, but I still wish I could wear heels JUST ONCE and not get bombarded with stares and comments. And now that you've likened it to people making comments to pregnant women, I'm wondering if us tall ladies get double whammied with both types of comments when we have a bun in the oven? Yet another reason for me to delay the kid thing...hah!
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