So my grandmother died.
And no, sicko, that’s not what I’ve been wanting for 30 years. I hear it was a lovely service. Yes, I was there, but I was chasing a two
year old around the funeral home. After
the funeral, my aunt gave some of her things to whom my grandmother had
designated. I had forgotten about this
part.
My mom was present for this part, and the next day she
brought my “item” from Grandmother’s house.
All she said, “You’re going to be so SO excited!” This is something you’ve wanted since you
were like five or six!” I couldn’t even
imagine what it was. But I was intrigued
for sure. Mom gave me a box about the
size that holds copy paper. I grabbed it
carefully, because I thought its contents would be heavy. The box was feather-lite. At that moment I knew what my bequest was –
EDWINA BLANCHE!!!!!!
Yes, my grandmother left me a doll. Not just any doll, mind you. It’s an ORIGINAL soft sculpture Cabbage Patch
doll. She's signed my Xavier Roberts and everything! You might think it odd that my
grandmother owned a Cabbage Patch doll.
I mentioned in a previous post that she was eccentric. In fact she’d be mad that I said she “owned”
the doll. She was adopted. I’ve got the papers to prove it.
When I was about six or so, we were visiting my grandmother
who lived in Georgia. This was before
the “Cabbage Patch Craze.” At this time
they were hand made dolls from this little boutique in Cleveland, Georgia. I don’t remember why we were shopping in
Cleveland, Georgia. For a little girl
into dolls, this store was my Mecca! It
was as if the mother ship had called me home.
Imagine it – all the dolls, each one cuter than the next. There were girls, boys, preemies,
toddlers. They had wonderful outfits and
accessories. They were displayed in
strollers, baby beds, in cribs, on tricycles – it.was.awesome! They.were.expensive!!!! Most were priced from $150. My mother told me to dream on. Not even Santa could pull that one off. Why you’d take a six year old, doll freak to
the greatest doll store EVER and not get her one is just plain mean if you ask
me. We stayed in the store for what felt
like an eternity. At one point I thought
I had my mom talked into a doll – but she didn’t waiver.
Then I notice Grandmother seriously enamored with one of the
babies. SHE WAS GOING TO BUY ME
ONE! That’s what grandmothers are for,
right? Hell no! She bought the doll for herself. I’ll repeat.
She bought the doll for herself!!!!
She always was a bit unconventional.
It was as if my world stopped. How could she do this to me? I started to cry and cry and cry. But I still thought that I misunderstood the
situation. Surely when we got home she’d
admit that her buying the doll was a joke and she’d give her to me.
Finally the shopping trip from hell ended and we went back
to her house. She was like a child with
a new toy. She loved the effing
doll!!!! I cried even harder because I
was so pissed off. Of course as a five
year old I didn’t articulate it that way.
For years Edwina’s smiling face looked mockingly at me as
she lay perfectly on Grandmother’s bed.
Or she mocked me from her crib or her stroller. Yes, Grandmother got the doll a crib and a
stroller. Sometimes when we would visit
Edwina would not be there. She would go
visit Aunt Jane or another relative, or she would go to camp. Yes, the doll went to camp. Technically you sent the doll back to
Cleveland, Georgia where it gets cleaned and repaired. But the doll returns wearing a “Summer Camp”
t-shirt. Oh PU-LEASE???? This would usually make me cry more, because I
secretly want to see her.
But, now she’s mind – ALL MINE!!!! Don’t know what I’m going to do with her. And yes, I did look on E-Bay to determine the
current auction value. She’s in mint condition,
mind you! She hasn’t appreciated in
value as much as I would have thought.
But she means a lot to me, so I’ll hold onto her for a while. Mainly I’m holding onto her because, I’VE
BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR THIRTY FREAKIN’ YEARS!!!!!
Sounds like a parable…you have delivered a timeless message “for those who wait”. I hope you “adopt” her.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!!!! Wouldn't dream of Edwina living with anyone else!
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