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places, rather than those that limited her role to one career or event. I learned the value of "mix-and-match" outfits and a versatile wardrobe young - thanks to Barbie. Besides the vast array of absolutely adorable and realistic little outfits that could be purchased for Barbie, my Barbie dolls had hand-made clothing made by family members. Also, my girlfriend and I (particularly toward the end of our doll-playing days) would often design fashions (besides the maternity wear) and make our own Barbie clothes. There were times, too, when we'd create miniature food, books, or other items for Barbie and her friends, which took "playing Barbie" more in the direction of arts and crafts.

When I was twelve, even though my friend and I no longer "played Barbie" my doll collection was never far away. I'd occasionally bring out Barbie and her friends to change their outfits, only to realize there wasn't much left to do once their clothes had been changed. By the time I was thirteen, the Barbie dolls were no longer sitting out in my bedroom and were, instead, lovingly packed away, where dust would not find them. When I permanently moved out of my childhood home in my twenties, even though I left a lot of my childhood things behind I made sure that the box with my Barbie dolls, and the cases that kept their belongings so safe, was among the things I brought with me. Maybe I would never "play Barbie" again, but I still treasured my collection. "Playing Barbie" had allowed my best friend and me the chance to leave childhood (which for both of us was actually a wonderful one) and imagine all the things the future could hold for young women.

I watched Barbie evolve over the time between my childhood and the time when younger family members "played Barbie". Barbie's heavily made up (and not-all-that-pretty) face had been turned pretty. Her blond ponytail had been turned into a variety of beautiful hairstyles, with hair very often in volume that no real girl's hair would ever be. By the time I had my own little four-year-old daughter, even though I knew she was a little young for "playing Barbie" I couldn't resist buying her a couple of ballerina Barbie dolls, a few in beautiful ice skating outfits, and, of course, a couple of collector's dolls in amazing gowns. I bought my little daughter Barbie dolls of different races and nationalities as a way of teaching her about diversity in real people. As my daughter grew, so did her love for Barbie. Like her mother, she "played Barbie"

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