homunculus - noun - a very small human being (Google)
I have always found homunculus to be a word with a sense of humor. Which might have something to do with the fact that I first heard it used in Woody Allen's Manhattan. Woody's character uses it to reference an ex-lover of Diane Keaton's character. Even though the actor playing the part is about 5'2" (Woody is 5'5"), homunculus still comes off as exaggeration, and hence, is comical. Interestingly enough, according to Google, the word was popularized in sixteenth-century alchemy and used to indicate the creation of a miniature, fully formed human.
Yesterday, I thought of the word while listening to my extremely socially distanced, not-fully-realized love in L.A. talk about his encounter with body builder, actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger at Golds Gym in Venice. If you Google the former governor of California, you will find that he is supposed to be 6' 2". However, according to my friend, he is 5' 7", a mere homunculus in comparison. I believe 5' 7" is true myself as in the 1980s, my mother shared an escalator in A.C. with Mr. Schwarzenegger. She, too, put his height at 5' 7". Why the internet insists on reporting the inaccurate information could very well have to do with ego: Arnold's. Many short, talented people, such as Danny DeVito (4' 10" a real homunculus) and Prince (5' 3"), have not suffered in popularity for being under 5' 5", so why would Schwarzenegger be so sensitive?
The takeaway of the anecdote is this: As a woman or a man or both, it is perfectly fine to be considered short. The sexiest men in my life aren't tall. And even if age decides to take off a few more inches of their height, they are still going to be attractive because of their disarming personalities. I'm sure Schwarzenegger would not be terminated as a celebrity if he were to segue into an authentic homunculus. He'd always "be back" to brighten rooms with his tall Austrian charm.
Stand tall today and take on life as it comes. Happy Tuesday!
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