What it's like being extremely tall

Being taller than average is often thought of as impressive or imposing. But at 6-foot-8, I go through much of life trying to shrink.

A man jumping into a river.
(Image credit: Aurora Photos/Alamy Stock Photo)

I was afraid of Midget Mark. Everyone at my favorite dive bar in Hong Kong, the Globe, called him Accountant Mark when he was within earshot, because he was the bar's accountant, but when he wasn't around, they called him Midget Mark because he was a little person. I was afraid of Midget Mark because, at 22 years old, I was just reaching my full adult height of 6 feet 8 inches, and I assumed he would resent me for my size.

So when he hopped up onto the barstool next to mine, looked me over, and said, "It must be hard to be that tall," I thought it was a trap.

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