Strong and Square I am descended from a long line of strong and square women. No-waisted, broad-shouldered, big-breasted women. Also short. These are my Mom’s people, a mix of German and Czech. When I was a child I thought my great-grandmother Anna was so short because age had shrunk her, but looking at photos I realize she was never more than 5 foot 2. Anna died at 99, when I was seven. I did not know much of her nature, we were so far apart in age as to barely be related.