Bodacious Boomer

When Barbie came out in 1959 I didn’t want one. I mean I wasn’t running around with a crew cut and wearing cargo shorts or anything but I just was more interested in any kind of art. I couldn’t understand the fascination that some of my friends had with them, having to have all the different outfits for them, then dressing then undressing them over and over. It seemed like a lot of work to me.

There was a Barbie board game- Barbie Queen of the Prom. Although I didn’t have the game, all my friends did so I played it a lot at for awhile. During the game each player is Barbie. In order to win though you must have a steady boyfriend, a prom dress and be elected president of a school club. There were four boys you could have as your boyfriend. One of course was Ken, that devilishly handsome young man who grew up to be a successful gynecologist. Two of the others weren’t memorable. I can remember the 4th one though- Poindexter. Doesn’t his name just tell you everything? He was sad and so were you if you wound up with him. I later read that Poindexter had opened a successful combination septic tank service/ mobil doughnut business in Happyville, USA.

Most of the girls playing this back then were probably about my age- 9ish at the time. Looking back now it seems that a lot of pressure was put on the girls who played the Barbie game. I didn’t win very often. (However many of the girls who often won also became the proud owners of an eating disorder when they became teenagers). Having just gone to my 40th high school reunion I now realize that a couple of my male classmates wish they could’ve played Barbie Queen of the Prom while they were growing up. They probably would’ve been better at it than I was.

Jump forward about 30 years and there I was with my own little girl, Amanda. She wanted a Barbie for Christmas so of course she got one- then another. I think she only had 2-4. Each had plenty of outfits. Just like my friends long ago, Amanda would sit and play with them for hours. Didn’t get it in the 60′s, didn’t get it in the 90′s. It made her happy though so it was OK with me. What wasn’t OK though was having to look for those tiny little Barbie shoes all over the carpeting. The house we lived in at the time had shaggish carpeting and those shoes could vanish in an instant. I don’t know how many minutes/hours I spent looking for one particular shoe out of a pair. If one was lost it made me crazy. (Was I screwed up or what)? Once I  even threatened to glue Barbie’s pumps directly to her feet. I think all Barbie shoes should come attached to each other in some fashion together, like when you try on the shoes at T.J. Maxx. It would be impossible for a young girl to separate them, thereby eliminating the search for the one lost shoe.  (I  think the moms of Barbie lovers everywhere would praise this improvement). I know I’m not alone. Admit it, you’ve looked for those shoes too. Today’s trivia answer- a kindle.