Barbie

Actually it's 56th!  But I like the picture on pink!

The Barbie doll  was introduced in 1959-I was seven years old and I, like most girls wanted one.   She was introduced in March, just in time to gear up for Christmas sales.  I did not believe in Santa at that time of my life (I had been told at a very young age, he was not real which is another story!) so I asked my mom for a Barbie for Christmas.  My cousin got Barbie, my neighbor that I played with got Barbie but I got a Babette (the fake Barbie).  Not only did I get the fake, but I opened a box that had a Barbie in it but my mom told me I had to give it to a child who was not having a Christmas that year and she took it away.  Looking back, I am sure she had a reason for this, but to a seven year old, that reason did not make any sense at all. This particular Christmas did so much damage to me that it took years to even begin to understand why it happened and how to overcome the feelings I had.
When my mother died I was 32 years old and her older sister came to be with us and to go through her belongings.  We became good friends and we kept saying to each other it was sort of odd that all these years had passed and we had no relationship and suddenly we did.  She would come each summer for a few weeks and we would craft together, go shopping, watch tv, just spend time getting to know each other and build a great bond.  One day, we were at a store and in the toy section and we passed the Barbie dolls.  I told her I had never had one and went on to tell her what I remembered when I was seven.  She told me what she remembered of that Christmas and it sort of made me feel better but still not whole and not understanding why my mom did what she did.  When we got home later that day, she came into my room and gave me a bag.  In the bag was a  Barbie. My first Barbie at age 32.  I was overwhelmed with emotions --I still am at her kindness in trying to repair the past.
I understand it's just a doll.  In 1959, they sold for $3.00. I would suppose Babette was 99 cents.   In 1959, Barbie had a black and white bathing suit and amazing collection of clothes and tiny little high heeled shoes.  She eventually had a car, a boyfriend, a house and in 1963, she had a friend named Midge.
The other day, I noticed it was close to the time Barbie was introduced at the American International Toy Fair in March of 1959.  The first year, there were over 300,000 dolls sold.  A fact I did not know was the woman who created Barbie, Ruth Handler was married to Elliot Handler and it was he and his friend Matt Matson who started MATTEL.  Just when Disney was launching the Mickey Mouse Club on television, Mattel invested in advertising and Barbie's sales skyrocketed Mattel into it's quick fame and fortune!
Barbie has gone through many changes in her life and she seems to be facing competition from Bratz,  Monster High, Ana and Elsa, and American Girl dolls.  Only time will tell if she survives, but she has definitely had a long successful run!  Happy 56th Birthday, Barbie!