I remember my Barbie doll. She, with the slim waspish waistline that I never had, not even when I wore a waist clincher. Remember those? Do they still even make them? Oh actually I think they do, I saw a man getting geared up into a waist clincher on a TV show recently. He was fixing to participate in a fake Civil War battle or something like that. Did guys really wear those things way back then? And why would a guy want a waspish, Barbie doll, waistline anyway? Which came first, the waistline or the doll. :-) But I digress.

Back to me, and my relationship with Barbie. It seems a little strange to think about playing with a doll as having a relationship but I guess that's as good a description as any. When I had my Barbie doll there was no going to the store to buy her clothing. I got out the needle and thread, used some scraps of fabric mom had left over and made the clothes myself.  Playing with Barbie gave me many hours of sheer girlish joy and an opportunity to be creative.

I hear tell Barbie's 50th Anniversary is this year. Not bad for an old doll.