I was shopping in the supermarket when I heard a young voice. "Mom, come here! There's a lady here my size!" The mother rushed to her son; then she turned to me to apologize. I smiled and told her, "It's okay. " Then I talked to the boy, "Hi, I'm Darry Kramer. How are you?" He studied me from head to toe, and asked, "Are you a little mommy?" "Yes, I have a son, " I answered. "Why are you so little?" he asked. "It's the way I was born, " I said. "Some people are little. Some are tall. I'm just not going to grow any bigger. " After I answered his other questions, I shook the boy's hand and left.
My life as a little person is filled with stories like that. I enjoy talking to children and explaining why I look different from their parents.
It takes only one glance to see my uniqueness. I stand three feet nine inches tall. I was born an achondroplasia dwarf（侏儒）. Despite this, I did all the things other kids did when I was growing up.
I didn't realize how short I was until I started school. Some kids joked on me, calling me names. Then I knew. I began to hate the first day of school each year. New students would always stare at me as I struggled to climb the school bus stairs.
But I learned to smile and accept the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life. I decided to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage. What I lacked in height, I made up for in personality.
I'm 47 now, and the stares have not diminished as I've grown older. People are amazed when they see me driving. I try to keep positive. When people are impolite, I remind myself, "Look what else I have—a great family, nice friends. "
It's the children's questions that make my life special. I enjoy answering their questions. My hope is that I will encourage them to accept their peers, whatever size and shape they come in, and treat them with respect.
