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A Short Story

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Michael Albert
Michael Albert

Michael Albert discusses being a short man and the challenges he faced due to his height, especially when he was younger. As a child and teenager, he was teased and struggled with feelings of inadequacy. However, he learned to be tough and overcome challenges in the Marine Corps. Meeting his wife Christina also helped him gain confidence. As an adult, he has come to admire other short, successful men and focuses on the positive saying "big things don't come from big things."

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Michael Albert michaelalbert@pobox.com 1) What Id really like you to know about me: PART 1 A Short Story I am a short man; 56 to be exact. So what? Well, we all carry self-inflicted burdens and being short is (one of) mine. Not so much at all at this point of my life*, but when I was younger, I had a Napoleon complex. I was the smallest in grade school classes, even shorter than the girls. For this, I was the butt of every joke you have ever heard. In high school I so much wanted to play baseball but at 51 and about 100 lbs, no way, Jose. I couldnt buy a date in high school, as I looked about 12 or 13 when I graduated at 17. Things really changed for me in the Marine Corps (drafted 65), where I learned I could do what all the Marines had to do because there was no choice. Do it or die trying. Somehow I did it. So physically I felt normal after being a Leatherneck. Then, after I fell in love with Christina and she fell for me, well, almost every fear and feelings of inadequacy (to the opposite sex) virtually disappeared. I didnt care how short or tall she was, just that she loved me and I loved her. In my marketing/advertising career, it was underwhelming (no pun) when I walked into the room. So I picked up what I had learned as a kid. Act tough and strong and talk a lot, loudly. Try and be better than everyone else. But regardless, never should a short ad man enter the state of Texas. So I began to admire other short men, Einstein (Height is Relative), Churchill (short man with a big V), Phil Rizzuto (played shortstop with the big boys), Ghandi (if he had been tall, India might still be a British colony). The list goes on and must include Frank Sinatra (cant get bigger than the Chairman of the Board). Remember, if youre are a short man, stay away from Dallas and Houston and focus on other big cities, the bigger, the better (did I say that?). One adage that has kept me upbeat my adult life is: If you split a big piece of wood, you get splinters. If you split a tiny atom, you can blow up the world. Awesome thought, yes? And its important for me and (especially) women to remember that big things dont come from big things. Big things come from small things (like seeds) or in small packages (diamonds). *Its still a pain to buy an umbrella that doesnt make me feel like Im under the big top, but Ill live.

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A Short Story

  • 1. Michael Albert michaelalbert@pobox.com 1) What Id really like you to know about me: PART 1 A Short Story I am a short man; 56 to be exact. So what? Well, we all carry self-inflicted burdens and being short is (one of) mine. Not so much at all at this point of my life*, but when I was younger, I had a Napoleon complex. I was the smallest in grade school classes, even shorter than the girls. For this, I was the butt of every joke you have ever heard. In high school I so much wanted to play baseball but at 51 and about 100 lbs, no way, Jose. I couldnt buy a date in high school, as I looked about 12 or 13 when I graduated at 17. Things really changed for me in the Marine Corps (drafted 65), where I learned I could do what all the Marines had to do because there was no choice. Do it or die trying. Somehow I did it. So physically I felt normal after being a Leatherneck. Then, after I fell in love with Christina and she fell for me, well, almost every fear and feelings of inadequacy (to the opposite sex) virtually disappeared. I didnt care how short or tall she was, just that she loved me and I loved her. In my marketing/advertising career, it was underwhelming (no pun) when I walked into the room. So I picked up what I had learned as a kid. Act tough and strong and talk a lot, loudly. Try and be better than everyone else. But regardless, never should a short ad man enter the state of Texas. So I began to admire other short men, Einstein (Height is Relative), Churchill (short man with a big V), Phil Rizzuto (played shortstop with the big boys), Ghandi (if he had been tall, India might still be a British colony). The list goes on and must include Frank Sinatra (cant get bigger than the Chairman of the Board). Remember, if youre are a short man, stay away from Dallas and Houston and focus on other big cities, the bigger, the better (did I say that?). One adage that has kept me upbeat my adult life is: If you split a big piece of wood, you get splinters. If you split a tiny atom, you can blow up the world. Awesome thought, yes? And its important for me and (especially) women to remember that big things dont come from big things. Big things come from small things (like seeds) or in small packages (diamonds). *Its still a pain to buy an umbrella that doesnt make me feel like Im under the big top, but Ill live.