Day 15 - Favorite Toys When I Was a Kid

Day 15

Generally speaking, dolls were my favorite toys growing up. In addition to my dolls, my mother had a set of doll furniture built for me. There was a cradle, a dresser with a mirror, and a chest of drawers ("Chester draws"on Craig's list 😳). I still have these, and will spruce them up when Violet is ready for them. My friend, Nancy, had the most adorable, colorful playpen (pack and play - sort of) for her dolls.

I had lots of dolls, but three favorites with which I played. The Madame Alexander Cinderella in the beautiful green dress and fancy earrings does not count. One did not actually play with such a confection of perfection. She sat on my bed.

Kathy was also an Alexander doll with blue eyes that opened and closed. She had curly blonde hair. Her legs and arms were jointed and her head would do a 360 turn, which I am sure was demonstrated multiple times by my brother, Mike, to the tune of my mournful wails. I mean, he shot one doll right off the sofa arm with his BB gun. No toy of mine was safe around him. Kathy was a baby doll, but not a newborn. I loved that doll and played with her endlessly, until I received a Baby Dear newborn. I named her Doty. That is what my cousins called our grandmother, and even though she was Mae to me, I loved the name, Doty. Nancy had a Baby Dear named Lisa. Just last year I found a vintage dress to fit Lisa, as she quietly lays in a bassinet at Nancy's house. The dress has quite a bit of wear on the back, but we figured Lisa would not be rolling over often. These dolls had soft bodies and silky hair (more like straw after years of play) and were just like holding a real baby.

Countless hours were spent playing house. We would take all the doll furniture and anything else that our moms would let us move outside and live in our imaginations all day. Once in Nancy's front yard, we had quite the set up, including a ladder, pots and pans and all manner of paraphernalia. Nancy's brother came home. He said it looked like hobos lived there. We thought it quite grand.

A new doll became very popular when I was a bit older. She was called Patti Play Pal. I actually named mine Jane. She was "the size of a three-year-old" and wore 3T clothes. She "walked" beside you when you held her hand, although with a terribly awkward stiff-legged gait. I had an aunt, Aunt Frank, who was a bit of an eccentric. She frequently came to our home unannounced. She moved slowly and quietly, and often one would look up and there Frankie stood in the doorway or the middle of the room. Anyone remember "The Sidler" on Seinfeld?  One day, Aunt Frank quietly entered the house. Suddenly, we heard a blood curdling scream from the livingroom. We ran to see what had happened, and there over Jane's fallen body stood my horrified and terrified aunt. I must say there was great laughter once Frankie settled down.

Day 15 - Favorite Toys When I was a Kid - check