History of a Doll...Sixty Two Years!

Sixty Two years ago this coming December, 1949 Christmas at my grandparents house, I was given this doll as a gift! On the far upper right you can see the rubber band that has broken that held her parts together.

For many years I kept her in this bag from a dress shop in the town I was born and raised in.

These are the pajamas that Mrs. Mildred Storminger, Joann Storminger's mother who lived across the street from us next door to Patty, made for her.

And this is the day I got her! Her dress was bright red and shiny. Her little shoes were black patten like mine!

I also got that clown doll, that I believe Mrs. Storminger also made!

And my cousin Barbara got a baby doll.

Here's my aunt Mimi sitting on my dad's lap!

And my uncle Harry holding new baby cousin Judy.

My mom has her arms around my cousin Neil.

Why do I look so pensive?

And I'm still holding the clown doll.

Wonder if I liked it best?

My brother looks bored. I'm sure he was being the oldest cousin.

Grandpa Abe loved us all. Of that there was no doubt!

And cousin Neil got his cowboy outfit!

He LOVED that!

My mother put my hair up in rags and pin curls!

Uncle Sandy, Cousin Neil and I probably are wondering what is in all

those yet to be opened gifts.

And I hope this is late evening and not the middle of the day,.

but drinking was something my family did

and this was not an unusual scene, dad and Sandy or it could have been

dad and grandpa!

But all that history aside, what I am really most curious about is how I happen to still have this doll sixty two years later!

I imagine she stayed in my bedroom closet at my childhood home while I went away to college for that semester, and then while I traveled the world, winding up in Israel for five years.

Did I collect her when I came back?

I had to have saved her for my daughter I imagine, although I cannot remember her playing with it. I'll have to ask her.

I do remember that when I got her or shortly thereafter I also got an entire wardrobe of hand knitted clothing knit for her by my grandmother and aunts and maybe my mom.

For many years I kept them in a long narrow pine wood box.

My last memory of that box was of my children using it to store crayons. I have no idea what became of those knitted clothes.

Obviously, I tucked this doll away in closets and drawers in many houses (Colusa St. Vallejo;

Matthews Ct., Vacaville; Great Jones St., Fairfield; Rockville Rd, Fairfield;

and now this house where she and I have resided for 23 years. She in that old bag

in a dresser drawer until I took her out the other day, called a doll hospital in Martinez, CA where I intend to take her today to be restored/put back together.

I plan to knit and crochet some more clothes for her and perhaps

give her to my grand daughter for Chanukah this year!

May the circle be unbroken!