Growing . . in Stature

"Did You Get Taller??"

I seem to see a lot more of my parents' friends in the Fall than the rest of the year.

That's especially true if their grandkids go to the same school as my kids do (there a lot of school-year programs for both parents and grandparents).

Invariably, the first thing they say, is "haven't you gotten taller?" (I'm about 6' 2".)

I wish.

At (almost) age 50, I'm certainly not growing anymore -- at least upward.

On the other hand, many of my parents' friends -- now in their '70's if not '80's -- are at a stage of life where they're clearly, um, shrinking.

Rather than point out the obvious . . . I just thank them for the compliment.

(I seem to recall something about "discretion being the better part of valor.")