One of the best Christmas gifts I ever received was a Sindy doll’s dining set from my father’s sister, my Aunt Kathy. Aunt Kathy always bought my sisters and I the best presents. She had three boys and I think she relished the chance to hit the girl’s section of the toy store. Many of my most beloved gifts were from Aunt Kathy. I mean, she’s the one who bought me The Barbie Beauty Center Styling Head too. Oh, I can still smell it-the plastic, sweet smell. I remember the way the powdery, blue eye shadow glided onto Barbie’s perfect eyelids, smooth as silk. And how her hair, always satin blonde, immediately became tangled, never to be like new again. But back to Sindy’s dining room set. A creamy, French provincial style. It was made for Sindy dolls but at my house, Barbie took it over. Barbie was kind of priviledged and tended to think the world revolved around her so she often furnished her life from the spoils she stole from other dolls. She took my Jody doll’s dog and, worse,...
This was a really great piece of writing, Laura!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the sugar packets that way, but I love that you had a collection like that. I had collections in my day and I would make up stories just like you described.
Thanks for the excellent read that started my day! Happy weekend!
I'd love to hear about your collections sometime!
DeleteLaura this was beautiful and I absolutely resonated with it! My parents also had friends whose children I abhorred but was forced to play with. I can remember the feeling as they ripped through precious toys, taunting and cruel. Your story brought that back yes but also reminded me the simple joys we had. The joys of a small collection of seemingly nothing. The joys of sitting for hours with our things, our precious treasures. Lovely-really brightened my day!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I humbly and profusely apologize for these and any parenting sins I may have committed. Next, I remember discovering this desecration and my heart breaking with you and for you. You were an extraordinary curator who did not deserve the carnage!
DeleteA hitch in my heart as I read this even after all these years.
I loved my collections! Whenever I met a new friend, I always asked them what they collected!
DeleteWhat a lovely story - I can feel your childhood heartbreak over the destruction of your beautiful sugar packets. I love the asterisks at the bottom! And how fun to see your Pinterest board of lovely packets!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know you liked all the footnotes. I didn't know if they would be well-received. I'm glad you enjoyed them as the little extras I meant them to be!
DeleteNicely done. I can picture the whole thing. Now I wonder...whatever happened to Stacy?
ReplyDeleteWell, I have another story about her that was VERY exciting. I may need to share that next. It's funny-I never considered her a huge part of my childhood, but she sure is proving to be inspiration for my writing.
DeleteOh goodness, I remember this feeling EXACTLY as I had a "friendship" like this as a teenager and it was awful. Great writing Laura.
ReplyDeleteIt seems a lot of people were pushed into friendships they didn't want to be in! Thanks for your kind words about my writing. I've really been working to improve as a writer and it's always nice to hear the work is paying off.
DeleteI loved reading this and gasped when Stacy committed such delinquency. I would've had a mental breakdown right then and there, lol!
ReplyDeleteEver since 8-year-old me felt betrayed after catching her friends playing with her beloved My Little Pony collection (with their dirty and chalk-stained hands from playing outside all day), I became stingier than Stingy from Lazy Town himself.
I know it doesn't compare to actually losing the sugar packets, but the heartbreak felt just the same; I still hate when people take my stuff without permission ðŸ˜.
p.d: I love your writing! <3
Oh my goodness! Your poor Little Ponies! And thank you for the kind words about my writing!
DeleteI hadn’t realized sugar packet art was a thing. Sorry your collection was treated that way.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's funny to think back on all the playdates I had with kids I didn't like, simply because our parents wanted to get together. And you're so right- now it's the opposite. I have all sorts of adult "friends" that I wouldn't normally get together with if it weren't for the fact that our kids want to play together. Hmm! Anyway... you poor thing! Your little girl self must have been so devastated. You're irreplaceable collection was just a bunch of sugar to Stacy- she probably didn't even notice the different pictures on the packets. I'm looking forward to the next Stacy story!
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