Who says size doesn’t matter?

So Friday I had a last-minute lunch date with a guy I “met” online. He was funny and smart, like his page said. But I already knew that from chatting on the phone with him for a bit. We seemed to be comfortable together right off the bat, which I think happens with people of a certain age who don’t see a first date as a life-or-death situation. The lunch hour flew by.

This Guy described himself online as “cute.” I wouldn’t exactly describe him that way but I’m not so worried about looks. Funny and smart are more important to me. Although I do wonder at someone mentioning their looks when there are pictures to go with the words.

We met for lunch at a place near my office. He was waiting for me outside as I walked up. Now, according to his online profile, This Guy is 5′ 7″ tall. Uh, I don’t think so. I’m 5′ 6″ and had on sandals that maybe added 2″ — no, I just measured — 3″ to my height. I felt like I towered over This Guy. Which, I confess, I don’t like.

I’m only slightly above average in height. In fact, I used to be over 5′ 7″ but have since shrunk. I know because I asked my doctor’s office to measure my height a few months ago, before a date with a guy whose online profile indicated he was 5′ 6″. Maybe This Guy, who’s also my age, has shrunk with age like me and hasn’t realized it yet. But he is most decidedly not 5′ 7″. And I could tell that even if I’d been barefoot, I would’ve had the height advantage in a pickup game of basketball.

So why does height matter? I’m not sure but it does. Otherwise, why do men tend to stretch the truth regarding their height online? I prefer someone who’s at least 5′ 9″. Anything shorter than that and I feel Amazonian. A man over 6′ tall leaves me feeling downright petite. It seems petty and silly to feel that way but that’s how it is. I’ve flat-out rejected interesting, appealing men online who happened to be shorter than me. I’m trying to keep an open mind about This Guy but it ain’t easy.