After reading, “After decades in heels, Barbie™ puts on flats,” written by Lindsay
Wise, I had to comment, because Barbie™ has and will always be a treasure to
me.
Though Barbie™ still cannot stand alone, she can now finally
feel steady on her feet. No longer does Barbie™ have to totter around on
sky-high heels. She can finally kick off her stilettos and put on a pair of
comfy flats. Since 1959, Barbie’s permanent arch has dropped to the ground and
she can wear a flat shoe. Introduced this year, Barbie’s ankles can move and can still wear her high heels. Now, no matter how odd Barbie™ looks barefooted, wearing
flats will make her feel better regardless of what careers Mattel has in store
for her. My head spins just listing the 26 careers and counting this lovely lady has
accomplished. 
v
1959
Teenage fashion model
v
1961
Registered nurse
v
1965
Astronaut
v
1973
Surgeon
v
1975
Olympic athlete
v
1984
Aerobics instructor
v
1985 Veterinarian 
v
1992
Rapper, Marine Corps Sergeant, Business executive
v
1993
Police Officer
v
1995
Firefighter
v
1997
Dentist
v
1999
Airline Pilot
v
2006
Ballerina
v
2007 Chef
v
2008
Soccer Coach, Swim Instructor
v
2010 Race
Car Driver, News Anchor, Computer Engineer
v
2011
Architect
v
2012
Residential Candidate
v
2014
Entrepreneur
v
2015 In
honor of the 50th Anniversary of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit
edition, the magazine teamed up with Barbie™ to feature this image in February.
Mattel said the move was an effort to celebrate entrepreneurs such as Tyra
Banks & Heidi Klum who like Barbie, “launched their career in a swimsuit."
I played with my Barbie™ dolls for
many years. I got my first doll when I was 10 years old. The second and third
came soon after and I played with all three for many years, finally putting her
to rest when I was fourteen and
going to high school. But I was reluctant and sad to do so. Those three girls
were my best friends, confidants, inspiration, and badly needed company, as I
grew up in a very rural area and had very few friends. No pity party, here.
Just telling it like it was and how important Barbie was too me.
And talking about inspiration,
Barbie™ was very pivotal when I came up with the idea of a Family Museum. Since
Barbie and a few of her precious things had survived years of neglect, she took
center stage, along with the kitchen set, wardrobe box, and books. (I saved Ken
from a box heading for the dump). Her original clothes were a mess and just at
that time, Mattel offered designer dresses without having to purchase new
dolls, so I picked out three outfits and happily dressed them in their new fashions.
Unfortunately, the dresses did not fit my Barbie’s, whose upper body is broader
than today’s Barbie dolls, but that didn’t impede me from fastening the
dresses, even the shoes, and then proudly displaying them in our Family Museum.
I just received in today’s mail my
Barbie Collection Summer 2015 catalog. On page 5, Welcome Home, Willows, WI™ Collection tells this story: “Before
Barbie™ took Malibu by storm and became the quintessential California girl, she
grew up in the small town of Willows, Wisconsin – a place filled with friendly
neighbors, white picket fences and endless blue skies. This new series pays
tribute to the nostalgia of Barbie doll’s hometown and her rich heritage.” http://www.barbiecollector.com//
On
page 7, there is a story titled, LIFE
BEFORE THE DREAMHOUSE written by Bill Greening, Principal Designer and a
digital scrapbook to explore at http://www.thebarbiecollection.com/willows
A truly cultural icon, Barbie™
continues to celebrate a rich heritage and continues to inspire and encourage
each new generation, just as your Family Museum should celebrate your heritage.
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