CommercialClack – Barbie’s gone

How did I stumble on this one, you ask? Well, there’s a Facebook page titled something like Girls Who Grew Up in the ’70s. And there it was! While I have no recollection of this commercial, it was cracking me up. Barbie can twist and move “just like you!” But only if you have severe arthritis at age eight.  Heh. But she’s keen!

And she’s groovy! “Wouldn’t you like to be Barbie?”

Well, of course we all wanted to be Barbie, but I am a little affronted that Maureen McCormick (alright, Marcia) could just forsake her old one without a blink to the toy man (who is frankly scary and should be reported to authorities) and be so happy about it. I loved my Barbie with a reverent passion. Back then she was referred to by the media (they are so cruel) as “bubble head Barbie”, and I thought she was beautiful, what with her snazzy blue eye shadow and perfect legs. Of course, years later it came out that if she were a “real person” her measurements would be big boobed with an eighteen inch waist and hips smaller then a twelve year old. But that mattered not to me and my friend Kate, who were addicted to playing with Barbie and Betsy during long summer days.

Those days didn’t feel long back then, though. We filled them with adventures for Barbie and  Betsy in their Dream House. We were lucky that back then children could actually amuse themselves without technology, email, texting and cable — and we could just be and play.

My grandmother had made some awesome fifties outfits for Barbie for my sister, and it was even better that Kate’s parents gave us a bit of a carte blanche at the local toy store to shop to our heart’s content. (Yes, we were a bit spoiled, but on reflection we deserved it.)

Barbie had pink silk evening gowns with trains that went on for miles. She had gowns made of blue and green tulle. Bathing suits galore. An outfit for every occasion, and so did Betsy in her own way. She reflected Kate’s personality at the time so well: football jerseys, jeans, shorts, tanks (Kate was a star athlete in school and could run faster than any boy). And when we (they) went to a party at Freddie Mercury’s house, or had a big blast out at the Dream House, she was clad appropriately to suit her style.

Yes, Freddie Mercury. He was Barbie and Betsy’s pal along with Barry Manilow and John Denver (who repeatedly had fist fights over Barbie’s love). Betsy’s suiters would be Ace Frehley or Fran Tarkington. Good times had by all.

And to answer your question, yes … Ken was there. But he always showed up naked and out of control. That Ken. He had some gender issues, it seems.

Flash forward to my Mother asking me to take all of my things out of the house because the basement seem “cluttered” to her. Barbie and her Dream House and car and phones and outfits were all ensconced in a small closet not bothering anyone. And when I went to get her, she had been evicted. Nothing. All gone! When I asked my Mom why, she said she had cleared some things out and given them away months before.

Yep. That’s why in this commercial, I can’t relate to Maureen just trading in that Barbie for a new twisty one.

The only good thing to come of this story is that when Kate got married, my present to her was Betsy in her favorite number 7 jersey and jeans. So, at least we have that.

Clacked by Tara Shrodes
on Jul 22, 2011 @ 10:00 EST5EDT