Patti, that's where my spaghetti tongs come in handy at home.

Here's an old and intentionally humorous song on the subject. Stick with the video through the banter at the beginning, it's a good song. Randy Newman has never had huge success as a performer but has won Oscars and Grammys for his composing. He's a guy whose talent is more widely recognized among musicians than among the general public.

Randy Newman - Short People

But I love saying, excuse me? you big strong man, can you please reach that for me? The satire in my voice makes them laugh. It's fun to do!

I am just under 5'4, which I think is pretty short. But I usually wear
one or two inch heels and at the grocery store I am frequently asked to
reach stuff for other people, so the 1 or 2 inches must make quite a
difference. :)

Elmer, James Coco's rendition on The Muppet Show is better ;-)

Oh yeah, I remember that song. My husband used to think it was quite humorous!

That's a good version, zalco. But no Bronx salute as with Randy Newman's.

Great idea, Fun! I, at 4'10" and shrinking, will have to remember that. On the other hand, I love asking for help and have always had luck with that request. People are so nice. I must remind them of their moms or grandmothers, lol.

I'm not too short at 5'3". I often ask my 6'2" husband to "be tall for me", lol. My over 6' older brother used to tease me with that short people song when we were young.

I lucked out with our dream property in that it was built by a house builder that was tall and loved his short wife- the kitchen and most of the storage in the house is a wee bit shorter so fits me perfect. My standard height stove sits up above the counters by a bit though, lol.

My only real short people, sigh recently was buying a new washer and dryer. My laundry room was built in with a serious platform for front loaders, and for years I had my old top loader. I would toe up onto the platform to empty out the washer. But the washer fried and was already on a second dryer, so new set.

When I shopped, I swear I could reach all the way down into the new washer no problem. It's one that can take queen comforters and has no middle paddle thing. Once I got home and double checked measurements, realized my platform was too shallow, so added on an extra 6" in depth. Good thing, the washer feet ended up being 3/4" too deep for the original platform.

No biggie, but now I have found I really need the step up on the new depth ledge provided by the dryer being set further back to bring me up to floor level with the washer... and now I also need grilling tongs to fish small items out of the washer!

Recently I was in line at a restaurant, and there was a very tiny woman in front of me. I'm 5'4", and she came up to my chin. I looked down, and she had on 3" heels! Goodness, that's short.

I’m 5’1” or 2”, husband is 6’3”. Sometimes it’s helpful. If I can’t find something in the kitchen however, I check on top of fridge. 🙄

Beesneeds, I'm in the market for a new washer, I will have to remember to check to make sure I can reach items at the bottom. Roxanna7, I always find people at the grocery store more than willing to help me reach things, but it's annoying to have to ask.

I see from the other thread, tall people have things they have to deal with too.

I think I am just under 5 ft. My question is when grocery shopping.....Where are all of those extra-tall people when you need them to get something off the top shelf???

I'm 5 ' 1" and sometimes it's good to be short. Walking down a tree-lined street for instance, don't always have to duck.

Shopping can be annoying at times. Top shelf where the thing I want is pushed all the way back. Sometimes climbing isn't going to help or grabbing something else to knock it over and pull it toward you. That's when I just give up.

I do have a step ladder in the kitchen, which I need for top shelves and even cleaning the second shelf, like I did the other day. I even have to use it to change the lightbulb in the outside lampost because I am just a few inches too short to reach in and unscrew it. The ground has to be totally dry, though, or the stepladder sinks into the ground. ) :

I'm 5'3" and consider myself average height. I have a small step stool in my kitchen & laundry room which is indispensable. My SO, on the other hand, is 6'4" tall and is seldom without some kind of scratch or lump on his head. Guess which one I prefer to be 😉

marylmi,

They're everywhere. Or I live in a big enough place. Just wait. They're around a corner

I’m 5’2”. When building our current home, I asked that the line to the handheld shower wand to lowered, as I knew I wouldn’t be able to reach it. This is one of my favorite photos from our build.

I'm 5'2" and recently had to have my 12 y/old granddaughter get something off the 2nd shelf in the kitchen.

She stood flat footed reached up and then snickered when she handed it to me. She's probably 5'5 and still growing.

Rob333

LoL. Today I actually waited for one to come around the corner but only more short ones! I finally had to find someone. :)

"My question is when grocery shopping.....Where are all of those extra-tall people when you need them to get something off the top shelf???"

For those of you who, like me, enjoy reading Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels:

Child (who is 6'4") worked for ITV in the UK for nearly 20 years (in the dramatic series production department, where he worked on shows like Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, and others). He was unexpectedly fired for becoming the union shop steward and agitating. He needed to find a new occupation (since his TV days were over). One day, while unemployed but before having deciding on a direction, he went grocery shopping with his wife. As he tells the story, there was an item she wanted that was on a shelf too high for her to get and she asked for his help. As he grabbed it she suddenly said something like "There's a job you can do right now, you can work here as a reacher".

Child is a pretty BS-ing and irreverent guy but if one can believe that tale, that's where the character name came from.

My 20 year old DGD is 4’10”. She is finished growing I’m afraid. Her feet haven’t grown since 5th grade. Short, but mighty describes her well. She didn’t get my tall genes, but definitely the ones from her Dad’s side and a grandfather’s side, which was full of short people.

I am the only short person at 5'1" in the entire family. DH was 6'3" but back issues have shrunk him to around 6'1". DS is around 6'3" and DD is 5'10". Even the grands are catching up to me. Seven year old DGD is already at 4'6" and five year grandson is at 4'3".

That is the short side of the family. I have a nephew who is 6'7" and his 12 year DD is at 5'10" and still growing.

I may be short but I am the healthiest of all the elders in the family. Never really minded being short. Most people think I am a couple inches taller than I really am. I think it's that eye contact thing I have always done along with a purposeful stride that comes naturally to me. I am routinely guessed at 10 years younger too. Sometimes more.

Outside Playing, my DD is 5’ 1/2”, and slim. We refer to her as “small but powerful” :-). You don’t mess with her and get away with it (nor my 4’9” MIL). She has been known to tell obnoxious spectators at football games to knock it off and gives them “the look” until they do :-D

And just remembered out bathroom mirror when we bought this house 30 years ago. It was so low! Perfect for me but poor DH was having to hunch over to shave every morning. We couldn't work out why you would mount a mirror so low. Then we met the previous owners (it's a small town). He was about 5'4", she was about 5'2". Mystery solved LOL!

colleenoz I learned very quickly in my marriage when asked by DH how high I wanted something hung to never-ever-never say "oh just about eye level".

I am 5'2" and planning a trip to Europe. Most people in the travel forums suggest paying extra to book business class seats for the extra legroom. I have enough legroom in coach, so I guess it finally pays to be short!

Another short person here - and shrinking. Dontcha just hate it in department stores where they double stack the hanging racks? No way I can reach the top clothes hangers, and even sliding the garments by tugging the bottoms to see everything tires out your arm. And don't get me started about Home Depot.

The worst, though, was the guy in line behind me at the Costco food court who walked ahead of me when it was my turn to be served claiming he didn't see me.

I am 5'2", as it seems a lot of us are! My 14 yo DD passed me not too long back :)

Finding a car that fits is challenging. The Accord we have fits very well, but I still have 2 seat cushions to make visibility around easier. If something rolls to the back of the trunk in that car though, it's a commitment to climb in and get it.

I'm five even. Pluses are plenty of legroom, can sometimes buy children's sizes which are less expensive, people offer to lift things for me sometimes, and closer to the ground already when I go to pull weeds. Minuses are really tall shelves, step stool kept next to the kitchen with another one outside (for the feeders), and people expecting you to sit in the middle and get squished since you are small anyway. :)

I WAS 4 ft. 9 in. but am shrinking rapidly and soon will probably be invisible. Being short and also skinny has some advantages. I can buy clothes in the girls department cheaper than in the women's department like cooper8828 just said and don't have to alter them. When I was in college in crowded buildings with tall guys all around me, all I could see was their belt buckles. One guy asked if I wanted him to pick me up so I could breathe. LOL I have to use grabbers at home and got under the shelf shelves because I can't even reach the 2nd shelf in my kitchen cupboards.

Just wanted to say I've been asked numerous times by shoppers to get something off an upper shelf at the grocery store. Always happy to do it for anyone! :-)

Being 5'1" (shrunk from 5'2") I also have problems with the top shelf. Am always looking for a tall guy to help, usually get it and in turn I offer to get things for them from the back of the bottom shelf and often do.

I get asked a LOT to get things off a shelf or the very back of the shelf for people. I am always happy to help as well. I have also gotten heavy things off the bottom shelves for people in those scooter things.(think cases of soda or bottled water)

There was one shopping trip where I would have loved the help of a shorter person to help me. Or anyone,for that matter. I needed something off the bottom shelf, and my back had been spasming,so everytime I attempted to get it, i had to bite my tongue not to cry out in pain. I left without it.

Lindanohnowga, my nephew always tells me they will be able to bury me in a cigar box. Greywings, I agree completely with your post. Amy!ou, for all of us short people, thanks!

My adopted daughter is 4'9" but makes up for it with her big personality.

Going back to grocery shopping and that upper shelf, I remember when the now upper shelf did not exist. 50 years ago there where not so many tall people.

Last week the shelf was empty of the Tetley tea that was on sale. I got on the floor to peer and there was one package at the very back, it was the bottom shelf. I never thought of asking someone shorter to get it for me! LOL It was a pain, getting it, that's for sure.