I succumbed to the temptation of buying five mint condition Barbies last Thursday at auction. I couldn’t help myself. Although my parents put baby dolls and stuffed animals under the tree, they failed to win my affection like my first Mattell Barbie with the red bouffant hair style. That stylish doll with all her original outfits is still in my possession and never fails to bring back pleasant memories. Her flawless complection, svelt figure, and tiny outfits provided hours of escape into fantasy during my grade school and junior high existence.
When Barbie went shopping or dancing, I went too! Barbie was my ideal, but only in a surreal kind of way. Through her toy world, I visited a pink and perfect place whenever I wanted.
The Barbie bride doll and one of the newer Christmas Holiday editions are now for sale in our shop, Farm Grove Collectables. I decided to keep the three Mattel designer editions and add them to my collection. My daughter, Kelly, already has laid future claim to all my Barbie acquisitions. It is the fun of knowing I am building on my memories to pass along to her that makes the collecting fun.
