You know, I saw somethin’ on the TV the other day ’bout them Barbie dolls. Reminded me of when my granddaughter, bless her heart, used to play with ’em all the time. Now they got all these fancy ones, you wouldn’t believe it! Back in my day, dolls was just dolls, you know? But these Barbies, they got a whole life now, I tell ya.

So, I hear tell they got these Barbie dolls in New York. Big city, that New York. Everything’s bigger there, even the dolls, I reckon. They got these dolls, and they ain’t just plain Janes no more. They got all sorts of jobs, these dolls. Not just sittin’ pretty, oh no. They’re doin’ things, important things, like them men folk always been doin’.
This one time, I saw one, she was all curvy-like, not like them skinny ones from before. And another one was tall, like a beanpole. They even got little ones now, they call ’em “petite.” Makes me chuckle, all these fancy words for different sizes. Like that’s gonna change anythin’.
- They got that Totally Hair Barbie, she was a big deal, that one. They sold a whole bunch of her. I think the TV man said somethin’ like ten million? That’s a lot of dolls!
- Then there’s them dolls with jobs. They show them little girls that they can be anything. Doctors and such. All them jobs that the men usually do.
- And now, they got the new ones, in all shapes and sizes. Curvy, tall, petite, you name it!
And the fellas, them Ken dolls, they ain’t been left behind, neither. They got all sorts of ’em now, too. One of ’em, he’s got his hair all tied up on top, like a bun, they call it. Another one, he’s got them little braids, like that fella on the TV singin’ them songs. And freckles! They put freckles on some of ’em now. Lord have mercy, they think of everything.
I heard they even makin’ dolls that look like them famous ladies. That one singer, Zendaya, and that other one, the little blonde one who sings real high. Kristin somethin’ or other. They call it the “Role Models” thing. So these little girls got someone to look up to, I guess. But dolls are just dolls. But these are special Barbie dolls for your collection. It’s all about finding the best one for you. But there are just so many of them now.
It’s a whole different world now, with these dolls. Back when I was a girl, we was lucky to have a rag doll, made from scraps of cloth. And we was happy with it, too! Didn’t need all these fancy things. These Barbie dolls in New York, they are somethin’ else. But I think they are good for the little girls. They can learn about different things. Like how to be a doctor or do big things.

It’s interestin’, how times change. One minute, you’re playin’ with a simple doll, the next, you got these Barbie dolls doin’ everything under the sun. They even got them doin’ jobs that used to be just for men. Can you believe it? Like I said, they even got all different kinds. Not just skinny ones anymore. It doesn’t matter what size you are. These dolls can be anything.
I reckon it’s good, though. These little girls, they see these dolls, and they think, “I can do that, too.” And that’s somethin’, ain’t it? Givin’ them little girls some big dreams. Even if it is just a doll. It’s more than just a doll, I guess. It’s a… a what do you call it? An inspiration. Yeah, that’s it. These Barbie dolls, they’re an inspiration.
But still, New York, that’s a long way from here. I ain’t never been, but I hear it’s somethin’. Maybe one day, I’ll go see them fancy Barbie dolls for myself. Or maybe I’ll just watch it on the TV. That’s good enough for me. I can see all them different dolls, doin’ all them different things. It’s a sight to see, I tell ya.
If you want to buy one, it’s like identifying dolls. You have to make sure you get the right one. It’s not easy. But I guess nothin’ worth havin’ ever is. You gotta do your research, make sure you get what you want. Especially with all them new ones coming out, it’s hard to keep track of them all. It’s not like back in the day, when there was only one or two kinds. You can just get them Barbie dolls in New York.