by vickey w
Member since:
September 23, 2006

Lets go back in time for a moment

October 25, 2007 03:50 PM EDT
views: 62 | rating: 9.5/10 (23 votes) | comments: 35

I think it is good to escape from today's pressures for a while. What was your favorite toy while you were growing up?

Mine was the Barbie doll. I had several friends while growing up but when I found myself alone, I would get my Barbies out and play pretend. I always had a vivid imagination and I was quite good at entertaining myself.

Barbie was a model/photographer. She lived in New York City. She had a boyfriend named Ken, but they did not live together. Ken , had his own place and was quite well off financially.

Barbie, had a second home in California. She entertained and was entertained by Hollywood celebrities. Barbie, had beautiful clothes and made a very good income. She was independent and determined. She was never lonely. She had plenty of friends and exciting places to visit. She was clean and wholesome and so was Ken.

Then Skipper came along, this was Barbies sister and best friend. Barbie would take her under her wings and eventually Skipper would become a big clothes designer. She designed many of Barbies clothes.

The Barbies have long ago been put away, but I cherish the memories to this day of a doll that brought so much joy and creativity to my life.

I started my own daughter with her collection of Barbie dolls and now it looks like I will start another generation with her own dolls as well. My great niece is to young at this time to play with the dolls but I will buy her one for Christmas this year. It will be put away ,until she is old enough to play with it. I hope after I am long gone that the dolls will still bring joy to the people that I love as they did for me  so many years ago.

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Comments: 35

vickey w Oct 25, 2007, 3:54pm EDT
George, was Major Matt. like GI Joe?
Yes I enjoyed the Barbie and Skipper days. I also had Tressy, her hair would grow (actually you pressed a release button on her back and you pulled it out).
I cannot think of a favorite.
Porsh T. Oct 25, 2007, 4:07pm EDT
I had Barbie and all of her friends along with countless accessories like the swimming pool and car! the good 'ol days!
David B. Oct 25, 2007, 4:43pm EDT
Lite-Bright and the Electro-Shot Shooting Gallery!

Chutes & Ladders was fun. (I always lost, and I hate my brother to this day! j/k about the hate part)

Eventually, we got that "modern" game ... Pong!
Col. George W. Oct 25, 2007, 5:10pm EDT
Never had toys. I had a 22 single shot rifle but it was not a toy it was a tool used to put meat on the table when I had a table.
Lisa Frost Oct 25, 2007, 5:53pm EDT
My first love was Winnie the Pooh. I have collected stuffed animals ever since. My mom gave them away when I was a teenager, she said I was too old, so when I turned 18, my brother gave me an ewok to start my collection over. My favorite right now is a Sully that talks. We gave it to my mom when she first got sick to keep watch over her.
David B. Oct 25, 2007, 7:04pm EDT
Wow, Col.

Did you also have to trudge up hill in the snow ... both ways?

;-)
vickey w Oct 25, 2007, 7:51pm EDT
Boy, you all have brought back some memories, that I had forgotten.
I had a Tressy doll too, yes her hair did grow. I remember the litebright, chutes and ladders.
I also, had a friend who had a fort, with cowboys and Indians, Horses all kinds of neat things, it was for a boy but I would play it too. Maybe the James West is what he had. I never knew the name of it.
Lisa, that was nice that you gave Sully to your mom.
Thanks to all of you for stopping by.
Kitty Lone Hawk Oct 25, 2007, 8:32pm EDT
I couldn't afford her but I still loved her. Mine was Mrs. Beasley from Family Affair. The "granny" doll Buffy always carried around and talked to. I finally have one, but it's a replica, what I wouldn't give for the real one.
David B. Oct 25, 2007, 9:23pm EDT
My cousin had a Mrs. Beasley doll!

I still have to apologize to her everytime we get together!
"ten" 4 u!!...; o )
Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz Oct 26, 2007, 11:16am EDT
Katie, I had a Tressy too. Not many people had her. She was a riot with that crop of hair you pulled out of the middle of her head.
vickey w Oct 26, 2007, 8:44pm EDT
Oh yes, I remember Mrs Beasley. I didnt have one but a friend of mine who had a younger sister had one. She would drag that doll everywhere that she went.
Oh, you are quite welcome Carol. It was a great article.

I appreciate everyone who has stopped by to comment on this article.
Melanie B. Oct 26, 2007, 11:22pm EDT
What memories came flashing back with your articles, and the other's comments. I had the barbies, skipper, and of course Ken. I had a white Barbie airplane. It closed shut like a suitcase. But had metal clasps, not like the plastic ones now. But when I turned 12, I think it was. My mom has my older brother clean out the toy room. There were 5 of us, I the youngest by YEARS.. lol He was suppose to only throw away the broken toys. And box the older toys away. When he got to my Barbie airplane, he threw it away! I was so mad at him. He told me I was too old for that now. And just to get over it.... grrrrr~~
Do you realize how much that thing would be worth now??? aaaahhhhhhh!!! lol the jerko~

I also had and still have the Tressy doll. I think that was her name. She wears a silk green plaid like dress. One thing my brother didnt get ahold of!!
*Mrs. Beasly doll too*

My favorite toy was my bike. My way of escape. I would ride my bike all day long and into the night. From friends houses to my parents place of work, school etc..

10*
Stacie N. Oct 27, 2007, 9:18pm EDT
Barbies. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

Inspirational Quotations About Life
ChrisJerri S. Oct 27, 2007, 9:34pm EDT
Also a Barbie doll.
ChrisJerri S. Oct 27, 2007, 9:34pm EDT
I also loved my bicycle.
Deb D. Oct 28, 2007, 11:15am EDT
For me, it was the Trolls. Mom made a Troll cave for me out of paper mache. It had niches in the walls for beds; I made throw rugs on my toy loom. I made clothes for them from felt and sewing scraps. We did buy a Troll car, however. One seater....looked like a log with wooden wheels. I still have it and the Trolls somewhere.
My bicycle was the other favorite....I'd be gone all day exploring.
vickey w Oct 28, 2007, 3:39pm EDT
Many of your comments have brought back memories for me as well Melanie B. you are right, if we had some of those same toys now, just think what they may be worth now. I too, rode my bike a lot.
Deb D. your article made me smile. I had a play sewing machine, it was pink. I would sew little doll clothes too. It seems like life was so innocent then. It wasnt as complicated as today.
No one on here has mentioned the Chatty Cathy doll though. I had one of these too, I remember thinking that she was homely but I loved her anyway. lol
I appreciate all of your comments and thanks for the memories.
Birdee F. Oct 29, 2007, 12:23am EDT
I loved Barbie too! I like how you shared how she was to you ;o) Made me totally think how she was to me ;o). My parents got me the big house (which I used rarely....it was almost like their vacation ski resort home or something LOL! Ken wasn't in Barbie's life too much....;o) I used to pretend my whole room was her mansion & the bed was her main hall where they would have guests & dances. I used to use black nylons to make her fancy dresses...they weren't see through, but they were skin tight LOL! I took skippers head off her body & put it on an adult Barbie cause come on Skipper needs to grow up too LOL! I would take them to the municipool (my bathtub) and they were GREAT swimmers haha! I had the hot tub that you push the button on the side for bubbles...lots of fun! I also liked the ice cream shop...I had that too. I got into cutting their hair & did pretty good...but in the long run didn't like that I had cut their hair. I learned how to do all sorts of braids & things so that's cool ;o). Now my girl will have cool braids done to her hair when she gets older ;o). Thanks for bringing back memories ;o)
ty phoon Oct 29, 2007, 1:52am EDT
I am like Colonel; 12 gauge Remington 1100 was my favorite toy.
Jeff H. Oct 29, 2007, 8:23pm EDT
The green machine!
William M. Oct 30, 2007, 5:05pm EDT
A bicycle. No 1 by far.
Tina (a slightly smaller Spanky) B. Oct 30, 2007, 5:09pm EDT
It was most definitely my bicycle. I could escape to anywhere but home on my bicycle.
Lydia (part of the solution) Shelley Oct 30, 2007, 8:08pm EDT
I had a collection of horse statues, and The Sunshine Family which of course I made interact with the horses...
vickey w Oct 30, 2007, 8:33pm EDT
Birdee, you are welcome. I am glad that you had such a good time playing Barbies too, its nice how we can create and use our imaginations, to entertain ourselves. It was a lot of fun to hear about all of your favortie toys and adventures.
Lydia, now that you mentioned them. I think I do remember the Sunshine Family.
Tina,and William, I know that I put lots of miles on my bike, I was so thin then.lol
Jeff, I never had a green machine but I know someone who did. I think I would of killed myself on it. Doesnt it have a big tire on the front?
Ty, I think most guys do like their guns. My dad used to collect handguns.
Greg Schiller Oct 31, 2007, 6:01pm EDT
I blush to say, my first favorite toy was a "car" my dad made out of an apple crate with tin-can tops nailed to the front and back as headlights and taillights. The car could do anything. all you had to do was imagine.
vickey w Nov 1, 2007, 9:12pm EDT
Greg, what a wonderful story, and your dad put a lot of love into this car for you. Thats what its all about, love and spending time with your loved ones, while you have the chance. Thanks, so much for this thoughtful posting.
Christopher K. Nov 3, 2007, 12:27pm EDT
my favorite ere the hot wheels race tracks
vickey w Nov 3, 2007, 7:22pm EDT
My dad would agree with you on this one Christopher K. He loved racing those cars. They were a lot of fun. I am glad to see your comments.
Pepsie J. Nov 4, 2007, 2:13pm EST
I loved my organ. I played for hours, never knew any songs though.
vickey w Nov 4, 2007, 3:08pm EST
Oh pepsie, this is so cute.
LaRue B. Nov 12, 2007, 4:05pm EST
I enjoyed Barbies when I was little. My daughters had them. One granddaughter had some. Other granddaughters never had them and probably never will.
But you know I would love to just color, draw and read when I was young.
vickey w Nov 12, 2007, 8:25pm EST
LaRue, I never did much drawing, I have no talent, I did color though, it has been so long ago that I had forgotten. lol

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