It was Barbie's 50th Birthday. Here is a chick that has not aged but has grown with the times. I was 8 years old when I got my first Barbie Doll. I went up to Toy World at Southdale and purchased her for I think $3.00. In those days clothes and accessories were sold separately, and you did not purchase a new doll each time. I had a trunk with her clothes neatly stored in them. Barbie was not a fashion statement to me, but she was a tool that helped me exercise my imagination and a friend to talk to. She was also very frustrating as those shoes and gloves were a pain to get on. I have a daughter and Laura was introduced to Barbie when she was about 4. She loved to play with Barbie alone in her room and create her own stories. Friends and their Barbies just got in the way. Yes, she had the Dream House and a pink convertible and all the other things that Barbie must have. She did not see Barbie as a statement about women but as a silent friend who would let you braid her hair and create some ridiculous hair dos with. Her brother would torment her by popping off Barbie's head and throwing it around inside the car on road trips. Now I have a granddaughter and Whitney is only 2 but has Barbie up on the horse riding into the sunset. Thank you Barbie for giving three generations of chicks the opportunity to have you as a friend. People can analyze her up and down, but Laura and I have turned out just fine and I am confident Whitney will too.
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