Para FAL may be okay, but you have to be careful. I handled a DSA Carbine not long ago, and to tell you the truth the stock was too long (I'm also 5'9" and don't have particularly short arms) and the rifle unloaded, without mag (I think) still weighed about 8 or 9 lbs. A para configuration will probably be lighter by a little, and the LOP will be shorter, but it's still a beefy rifle. I'm not putting you or your wife down, but hauling a 9 lb rifle plus 2-2.5 lbs of ammo per 20rnd mag adds up really fast. Frankly the best thing to do would be to get ahold of a friend who has one, and go shooting with them. See if the Para FAL is light enough/user friendly enough for a good go to gun. If it is, happy day, go to town. If not, look in another direction. Good luck to you both.