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In The Land Of Giants

I had a meltdown this weekend. It wasn’t one thing but a culmination of quite a few things happening in one very long week. It’s the one time I’m glad I’m not famous or I would have given The National Enquirer enough to talk about for months.

Yesterday afternoon, I escaped to a barn where I’ve been taking riding lessons. Horses are very sensitive creatures and if you don’t concentrate on what you are doing and stay in the moment with them, they tend to act out. When my horse started jumping all over, I realized I had to just let it all go and say enough of worrying and ranting. I went on to successfully complete my lesson and as I navigated around the ring on my own without my instructor right beside me (a big accomplishment for me), I just let it all go.

And my reward was the light at the end of the tunnel. I do believe God is always there for us but sometimes we get so wrapped up in ourselves, we forget to listen. I needed the reminder.

For those of you who helped me through, thanks so much for your friendship and support. It’s comforting to know you are there for me. So on to the lighter side. . .

Some of you might be envious that I’m married to a fantastic builder and it is indeed fabulous but it does have its drawbacks. I’m 5’2″ on my best days and Mountain Man is 6’3″. Quite a disparity but not much to worry about in a relationship unless the taller person designed your house.

The first time I ever took a shower in our bathroom, I turned on the faucet and waited and waited and waited some more for the water to hit. “What’s taking so long?” I wondered as I shivered impatiently. I looked up and discovered Mountain Man had set the shower head way up in the wall so far over my head, I couldn’t even reach it. By the time the water trickled down to me, it had evaporated.

“What did you do that for?”

“Well, I built the house and it works fine for me.” Men, don’t you love their logic?

My next lesson was washing dishes. I had to reach up to the sink and stand on my tiptoes to reach down to the basin. The counter height is 4 feet. Yes, he built that for him as well.

And then there’s our kitchen bar/dining table where Mountain Man serves his fabulous meals. It’s also over 4 feet off the ground and when I climb up into my chair, my feet don’t touch the ground. I get dizzy looking down at the floor so far below.

And I’m probably the only woman I know who uses a ladder to get in and out of bed. Here’s our bed in the Ozarks but our bed at home is even higher.

It’s 5 feet off the ground and add in the mattress and feather beds, then I’m climbing 6 feet up into the air. It was built to accomodate vast amounts of dogs underneath us and it serves its purpose quite well. But I always think it’s fortunate I’m a deep sleeper because if I should ever roll, it’s going to be quite a drop.

We’re in the process of remodeling our house and Mountain Man came up with the idea of making a built in recessed area for our refrigerator to free up floor space. We have an older model refrigerator where the freezer is on the bottom and the regular part above it.

He created a spot over the basement stairs to tuck it out of our way and today, we placed the refrigerator inside it. But I should have known I’d have a problem when we had to get the refrigerator moved by placing it on elevated blocks.

I started to put everything back in the refrigerator now that it was in its new space.

“How high did you elevate this Mountain Man?”

“Just 14 inches. I didn’t want it any lower or it would cut into my head room in the basement.”

“Well, we’ve got a problem because now I can’t reach the upper shelves.” And I couldn’t. My reach stops at freezer level.

“Don’t worry. I’ll build steps for you.”

“Don’t bother. I think I’ve found the perfect diet solution.” as I gaze at the refrigerator towering so far above my head.

He’s moving on to the bathroom next. I’m supposed to be getting a jacuzzi tub but perhaps it will need a diving board.

And that’s what it’s like living in the land of the giants.

Any height disparities in your relationships?