By Charlotte “Blu” Berman

Is Nicole Kidman concerned about Keith Urban’s stature? Does Brooke Shields fret about the height of husband Chris Henchy? Does Erin Darke concern herself about Daniel Radcliffe’s (better known for his Harry Potter roles) loftiness? I’ll bet not.

Let’s face it, it seems that throughout the ages into contemporary times, females, women, ladies of all ages tend to want their ‘special someones’ to be taller than they are. Is this fair? Perhaps not. What about all the great short guys out there who are handsome, erudite and have wonderful personalities? Just ask their mothers.

Finding old family pictures recently, I notice that my mother, Anna, was at least a half a head taller than my father, Leo. Wait a minute, could it be that it took me a lifetime to actually realize this? You know how it is. When you live with folks, day in day out, year in year out, one takes things for granted.

When they first met many years ago, I gathered from love notes I found that Dad had fallen hard for Anna Schwartz, but Mom was cool and distant, and perhaps playing hard-to-get. He asked her whether she’d like to get to the theater or dine out with him (way to go, Dad!).

He told her he was sorry that she couldn’t make his graduation from Fordham College of Pharmacy. I think it may have been that Mom didn’t want to tower above Dad’s cap and gown.

Not to be deterred, he continued to woo her and little by little her answers to his love notes and phone calls thawed and they were to become engaged to be married.

Before Anna definitely said “yes,” she said to her mother, “Mom, I’m going out today with Leo. Look out the window and tell me later how we look together.”

Even though she saw the height difference between them, Grandma was no fool. She knew that the groom-to-be owned a drug store and made a good living. When Anna later asked her mother the big question, “Well, Momma, how did we look together?” Grandma couldn’t wait to give an enthusiastic, “Wonderful! You looked like you were just made to be a couple!”

That sealed the deal.

At their wedding, I was told, my mother wore very low heels with her wedding dress, and my dad eventually started wearing “Adler Elevator” shoes.

When it comes to love, no matter what the height difference, couples find a way to see eye to eye.

Charlotte “Blu” Berman is a freelance writer living in West Hartford.

Readers are invited to submit original work on a topic of their choosing to Kolot. Submissions should be sent to judiej@jewishledger.com.

CAP: Charlotte Berman’s parents, Anna and Leo.