Barbie turned fifty!! Despite some bad press over the past several years, Barbie has maintained her charm and composure. She has serenely continued on her mission of entertaining and inspiring girls around the world.
Okay ... I have to admit that Barbie didn't entertain or inspire me a whole lot. At some point in my early childhood I received an "original" Barbie, complete with yellow ponytail, rigid legs and feet deformed from wearing spike heels. Her one "store-bought" outfit was supplemented with beautifully designed home-made dresses and a few hand knitted garments as well. I doubt if any other Barbie possessed a comparable wardrobe.
Eventually, a Barbie Dream House (complete with cardboard furniture), a Dream Mobile, and two friends, Midge and Ken, were added to my collection.
My last childhood memory of Barbie was in third grade ... I took Barbie & Co., along with the wardrobe trunk to school. As the girls oohed and aahed over my collection, I enjoyed building skyscrapers and highways with the boys. Shortly after that, Barbie and Friends were stashed away in the back of my closet as I moved on to more important business.
Years later, I dragged out my collection for the entertainment of my daughters. Somehow, Barbie didn't quite grab their attention as they preferred the baby dolls whose eyes opened and closed as they cried "ma-ma." Barbie's reign as "doll queen" didn't last long.
Eventually, my worn out Barbie collection and home-made clothes were given to my pastor's daughter. Here Barbie found a true admirer. Rachel played for hours, dressing and styling and accessorizing. Maybe Barbie did influence Rachel, as today at 22 she still loves to dress up, primp and accessorize.
My only regret is that my original Barbie with the year 1959 imprinted on her bottom turned out to be a collector's item ... but by the time I knew this, Barbie was tired, worn, scarred, and showing her age ... sort of like real women!
Happy Birthday, Barbie ... where ever you might be! You and I both have stood the test of time ... we are real classics!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Benjamin Button, Act Your Age!!
F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, has found new life in the movie of the same name. Brad Pitt portrays "Benjamin Button", born as an elderly man and dying as an infant. The common theme throughout the story is ... Act your age.
As a child, Benjamin preferred smoking cigars and studying the encyclopedia more than playing with his rattle, stuffed animals or trains. As an elderly man, Benjamin found more pleasure in playing soldier or creating wonderful designs from colored strips of paper in the nursery than discussing business and politics. Eventually, all memory faded from his mind and he found pleasure only in his daily feedings and the presence of his nanny.
Benjamin Button's chronological age never did match with his physical age ... which created great anxiety for both his family and those in his social circle. He never could seem to act his age.
This story causes me to think of comments frequently heard in reference to aging. "Isn't it amazing that he can still do that at his age?" "She is way too old to be wearing that outfit." "Isn't it wonderful that she went back to college at her age?" "Doesn't he look great for his age!"
Magazines often display headlines telling us that we can take years off our appearance with just a few changes. Celebrities and models are said to be changing the image of over fifty.
What does "age" look like? Who decides how fifty, sixty ... or eighty should act?
As a child, Benjamin preferred smoking cigars and studying the encyclopedia more than playing with his rattle, stuffed animals or trains. As an elderly man, Benjamin found more pleasure in playing soldier or creating wonderful designs from colored strips of paper in the nursery than discussing business and politics. Eventually, all memory faded from his mind and he found pleasure only in his daily feedings and the presence of his nanny.
Benjamin Button's chronological age never did match with his physical age ... which created great anxiety for both his family and those in his social circle. He never could seem to act his age.
This story causes me to think of comments frequently heard in reference to aging. "Isn't it amazing that he can still do that at his age?" "She is way too old to be wearing that outfit." "Isn't it wonderful that she went back to college at her age?" "Doesn't he look great for his age!"
Magazines often display headlines telling us that we can take years off our appearance with just a few changes. Celebrities and models are said to be changing the image of over fifty.
What does "age" look like? Who decides how fifty, sixty ... or eighty should act?
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