In last week’s #MyFirst blogging challenge set by Kerri Sackville, we were given the topic ‘My First Bestie’. I wrote about my neighbour and childhood best friend (Miss M); and I’m sure she’ll be stoked to know she features in this week’s challenge as well – because Kerri has set us the topic of ‘ My first wish fulfilled’.
Like most besties Miss M and I shared many a rite-of-passage. I still recall learning about ‘how babies were made’ and receiving a very graphic book (aimed at children… see pics below!) from my mother which naturally had to be shared with Miss M after I’d finished with it. (I’m pretty sure our mothers had discussed the subject first and decided the time was right.)
Similarly one day in late primary school Miss M told me she’d heard girls talking about ‘periods’ and didn’t think they meant school periods. Did I know anything, she asked. Of course I didn’t but after consulting with my mother we were simultaneously brought up to speed. (I’m pretty sure there was a book involved there as well – but it was nowhere near as memorable!).
And… to this day I still remember receiving confirmation that Santa Claus (along with his counterparts: the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy!) was not real. (Oops sorry, forgot to add #SPOILERALERT!)
Miss M discovered her mother’s hiding spot for presents at quite a young age, so in late 1974 (I think*) at age 7, her exploration uncovered a much-desired ‘Velvet’ doll on the top of the cupboard. Not long later ‘Santa’ brought her one for Christmas and – just like that – his cover was blown.
I was devastated. Not just because it proved our suspicions that there was no Santa (which meant our parents no longer needed to humour us with lots of fun stuff at Christmas) but… I WANTED a Velvet doll. She should have been mine. My reasoning was simple: I was the blonde one, not Miss M. She should have been mine!
My pouting continued over the Christmas period and I still remember my disappointment days later on my birthday when there was no Velvet doll lurking beneath the bright birthday paper. Indeed, I think I was such an ungrateful little wench that I sulked that the ‘Kodak’ labelled gift was a little transistor radio not even a camera as I’d first thought!
I should note here, my family was ‘comfortable’ but not well off; but I guess I didn’t understand that as a kid. I like to think (now) that I was vaguely appreciative of whatever I received, but sadly suspect I wasn’t.
We were holidaying at an aunt’s in Brisbane at the time and what I do remember is that… in the post-Christmas sales we went shopping and… I FINALLY got my hair-growing doll: an auburn-haired Crissy! I’m fairly sure I would have preferred Velvet – a blonde like myself – but hope I was so excited at my parents’ generosity that I accepted Miss Crissy with open arms.
I should mention I actually wasn’t much of a ‘doll’ person. Indeed I had few ‘dolls’. I was more of a ‘Barbie doll’ girl. I LOVED my Barbies and they occupied my time, rather than their larger counterparts. I think my niece was a bit the same, so perhaps it’s not uncommon. Of course it meant that my Crissy doll survived my childhood and now lives in a suitcase in my mother’s closet… not too worse for wear.
Were you an ungrateful child like moi?
Did you yearn for presents you didn’t receive?
* After some ‘research’ I discovered that Crissy dolls were actually released in the late 1960s. My incarnation (as well as the extendable hair, she spoke – sharing exciting phrases about her love to dress-up) was created in 1974 and sold through to 1975. Her ‘cousin’ Velvet ‘arrived’ in the early 70s and was made until 1974.
PS. Was gonna add a graphic pic warning re the How a Baby is Made book, but figured if it’s meant for children anyone who comes across it should be old enough to deal with the oh-so-attractive image that is still in my head nearly 40yrs later!
December 16, 2013
It is the small things that we remember fondly, isn’t it?
December 16, 2013
Most definitely. Once I had the doll she didn’t feature much in my life at all… but the ‘getting her’ is what I remember.
December 16, 2013
I don’t think you were an ungrateful child at all, but a quite normal one! I hankered after a few things, the first being a gold bluebird bracelet that once received, I lost on Christmas Day! The next was a ‘bride doll’ which I adored with a passion that bordered on manic (and still have it in a cupboard somewhere). It’s funny – I had a friend who had numerous toys yet none were really treasured. It’s a case I think, of ‘the law of diminishing returns’ 🙂
December 16, 2013
Oh yes I remember the ‘bluebird’ jewellery fad. Most of the stuff we owned back then was from Avon. (From memory!)
December 16, 2013
I was exactly like this as a kid! I remember being so disappointed one Xmas because my parents miscalculated and gave me a lot less than my siblings I cried they felt guilty and bought me a doll and said Santa delivered it to the wrong place. I remember more moments of being disappointed with what I got than I remember being happy. Id say I was definitely ungrateful! Embarrassing to think about!
December 16, 2013
I know… I only hope our parents were understanding and put it down to our age or immaturity or something… without worrying we were going to become horribly ungrateful adults!
December 17, 2013
OMG I laughed so much when I read this. I didn’t have a Crissy doll … but I remember her ad on TV (what feels like 100 years ago.) I can actually still hear the jingle and remember the words …
“Baby Crissy, so full of fun,
Her hair can be long … or short as can be.”
Too funny. Thanks so much for the giggle 🙂
December 17, 2013
You’re welcome Jo. When I googled it (ahem – undertook vast research!) I saw there was a baby Crissy as well.
Deb
December 17, 2013
I had a Crissy doll! I can’t believe that you wrote about this. It brought back all the sneaking around to find out what Mum had stashed in the wardrobe – usually when she was out hanging washing on the line. Yes, there were many moments of Christmas envy – I had four sisters after all. And there was one moment of utter bewilderment when Santa brought me a train. Didn’t he know that I was a girl??
December 17, 2013
I actually never found my parents’ hiding spot Char. I must ask mum where it was!!! A train, oh dear… (mind you, we were pretty gender specific in those days!).
Deb
December 17, 2013
LOL, I love the “how baby is made” graphic, esp the baby coming out all wide-eyed. 🙂 My younger sister was born when I was 7, so I think I learned how babies are born at that time. My mother even had a horizontally striped nightie like the woman in the graphic!
I was an ungrateful child too. 🙂 I was upset when I got a black barbie as a Christmas gift when I had specifically told my mom that I want a golden blonde “Beach Barbie” I had seen in a toy catalog (they run out). I also moped a day or two at age 10 or 11 when I didn’t get the right book as a birthday present. I think I wanted a certain novel by Barbara Cartland (!!!!!).
December 17, 2013
Satu – I think the baby in the graphic even has teeth!!! (Not to mention the fact it’s smiling!)
I can’t believe you wanted a Barbara Cartland novel at such a young age Satu! I’m not surprised you didn’t get it – but yes… it’s mortifying to think how ungrateful I (we) could once be!
December 17, 2013
That graphic of the baby being born had me in tears – hysterical! I just love the expression on that doctor’s face… Thanks for much needed laugh!
December 17, 2013
I know! I used to talk about that book and that specific page from the book but didn’t expect to find it when I googled it! Obviously the book is quite famous – even it it does traumatise its readers!
Deb
December 22, 2013
I also had a Crissy Doll! I had specifically asked Santa for one and when it turned up under the Christmas tree my mother told me I was lucky because that was the last one Santa had. (Later I was also given twirly beads which you inserted in the dolls head and twirled around her hair.) I was a little doubtful about Mum’s story at the time because my best friends big sister had told me that the year before, she’d seen her Mum sneak into her bedroom and put presents in her Christmas stocking. It created quite a heated debate. Anyhow, thanks for the wonderful memories. I have no idea what happened to my Crissy doll. 🙁
December 22, 2013
Oh… mine didn’t have beads! I must actually dig it out of mum’s cupboard. Heaps of my old stuff is still there though – cos I didn’t have kids I didn’t really have anything to do with it all!
December 23, 2013
I always wanted a Barbie Head. You know… one of the heads on a stand that you put makeup on? Never got one. Still pining. x
December 23, 2013
My niece had one of them and made my brother (ie. her dad) use it to learn how to do her hair for ballet! #practical