How Barbie followed me into adulthood

I bought myself a Beauty Secrets Barbie in 1981 on an impulse. I was single and living on my own, and was shopping for a birthday present for a friend's daughter. The daughter was an infant so I was shopping for a baby toy, but I was drawn down the Barbie aisle at Woolworth's out of curiosity to see how the doll had changed since I was a child. I'd loved my Barbie and spent hours making her clothes and furniture out of anything I could get my hands on.

Well, it took about half a minute to fall under Barbie's spell again. I, a grown up woman, was going to buy myself a Barbie doll! It took another half hour to pick out the perfect one--Beauty Secrets had long, long hair and lots of little accessories. But she only came in a pink teddy and lacey wrap, so of course she had to have another couple of dresses.

I felt so guilty taking my new doll up to the register, like I was doing something forbidden. As I was writing the check I could feel my face getting redder and redder. As the lady at the register handed me my bag I felt compelled to tell her "the doll is for my...my...my niece!"

I bolted home and tore open the box, then spent the rest of the evening changing Barbie's clothes, posing her and combing her hair.

And though Barbie's no longer my #1 girl, I'm basically still doing the same thing.