How’s the weather up there?
I get that question a lot. Too much. Yes, I am a six foot one inch woman. With red hair. Very curly red hair. Yep, that’s me. So, because of my physical appearance, many, many people stop me in various places and ask me “How’s the weather up there?”. As if there is a real answer to that question.
When I was growing up, it was really difficult. In sixth grade I was as tall as I am now. Taller than everyone, all the boys, all the girls, all the teachers AND the Principal. I was also less than 100 pounds and had very curly red hair, glasses and crooked teeth. Man, I had it all. I was teased. No, I mean I was TEASED. Mercilessly. It was rough. But, I got through it.
Today, I have two beautiful daughters, who are also very tall (surprise surprise). I am watching them go through the same issues that I did. Luckily they don’t need glasses, their teeth are straight and they do not have red hair. But they are head and shoulders taller than all the other kids that are their age. So, now they get the question: “How’s the weather
up there?”. I am trying to teach them to let it roll off of them, or to have a snappy comeback ready like “Cleaner air than down there”, but I want to know why this is ok? Do all the short people get strangers stopping them and commenting on how SHORT they are? Is this all kids, no matter what is different about them?
I remember the hurt I felt just wanting to fit in and I see this same pain in my beautiful children’s eyes and it angers me. I realize most people do not mean any harm when they ask if we play basketball, or what sport is our sport (what if we don’t play sports?). Why don’t people think about what they say to someone before they say it? Would it be appropriate to ask short people if they are planning on being a jockey or if miniature golf is their game…. but really, I HATE playing basketball.