Honey, I Shrunk Myself!

Arriving in Amsterdam I realize how really short I am. Everyone here is so tall.   The Netherlands have some of the tallest women in the world.  The average height is 5 foot 7″, in the USA the average women is 5 foot 3″ I use to be 5 foot 2.5” on a good day!  I have  shrunk to about 5 ½”.  When I went to watch my friend JT Tiller play basket ball I sat in a seat at the arena and there was a good 4 inches between the bottom of my foot and the floor.

JT Tiller played for the University of Missouri and was my son, Dougs, room mate. He is now playing in Zwolle, Netherlands, about an hour train ride from Amsterdam.  I made it here for his first game and they won. I have not seen JT play ball since college and he still has the moves.

Once again I have a unique opportunity to see a city outside the tourist route and see how people live each day. Zwolle is the best of the best of cities. A mix of old and new, easy to navigate and get around. Everyone and I do mean everyone rides bikes.  I saw little 3 year olds riding two wheelers and 90 year olds riding bikes – all without helmets. They have well maintained bike paths, as good as the road for cars. They ride in all kinds of weather.  They say there is not such thing as bad weather only bad clothing, so they dress for the weather and get out and walk and ride bikes.

I was to cook for JT in exchange for a bed, but he has already charmed friends and family to do this for him and I am the invited guest at Gert and Judith’s home for dinner. Judith reminds me of a Dutch friend I had in Nicaragua in 1991. Fun, vivacious and upfront. The Van Dams were there with the Dutch Embassy. Their boys were the same age as my boys and on their first sleep over they came home and announced with much delight that Mrs. Van Dam gave them toast with chocolate for breakfast. I was a little taken back and later found out this was Nutella- something not yet popular in the states.

After a dinner with JT friends, we attend a basketball game of their 14 year old daughter, who is, yes very tall, beautiful and a good basketball player. When I die I want to be reincarnated as a Dutch women in Zwolle.

Of course I go to Amsterdam and do all the fun tourist events.  A ride on the canal, the Van Gogh art museum, Rijks museum with some Vermeer and Rembrandts, churches and shops and of course eating. But still the best sight was watching JT set up the plays and shooting a 3 point basket.

Life is either a great adventure or nothing.    Helen Keller

JT after the win!

The Moves!

This Pizza Had my name all over it!