Well, it’s only 36 days until Christmas. Have you started your gift shopping? Most shopping today is done online, but there is something enchanting about going to the mall or a local store to “feel” the excitement of this amazing season. The stores are magnificently arrayed in red velvet, gold, silver trimmings and sparkles are everywhere. It’s like a fairy tale filled with one beautiful sight after another. I grew up in the 1940s and 1950s, so we were also treated to the Thanksgiving Day Parade in downtown Milwaukee. My grandmother lived in an apartment on National Avenue, which is where the festive floats made their way down the street, accompanied by several high school marching bands. We had the best seats in the house when it came to the beating of the drums and the roar of a chorus of trumpets.

At that time, the best gift for little girls, was a Nancy Ann Abbott Story Book doll. Nancy started her doll making operation in 1936 with $125, working from her apartment. From that came a company that swept the nation. Her dolls were based on story book characters from nursery rhymes and fairy tales. To receive one of these dolls, was on every girl’s Christmas list. The fact that my grandmother was a seamstress, I could look forward to lots of extra doll ensembles for my doll to wear. The dolls came in a pink polka dot box. As soon as the wrapping was removed, it was apparent that the recipient knew exactly what was inside before opening the box.

Time has passed. Dolls have gone through a history of their own. From the Story Book Dolls to Barbie, Cabbage Patch, Chatty Kathys and currently the American Girl Doll. I recall one Christmas, taking my granddaughter to the American Girl Doll store in the Mall of America. I was almost as excited as she was to purchase her first one. Like the Story Book Doll, the face was pretty much the same on each one, and they weren’t especially pretty, but a child could choose from a variety of styles. Most of the time, they would choose one that resembled themselves. The trip to the mall was to be the start of a new tradition for us, but when we arrived, the American Girl Doll Store was closed for a private party. Both of us were highly disappointed. In order to soothe our broken hearts, we went to have dinner, which would be followed by a visit to see Santa. By the time we got to see him, his little village was ready to close! Being the fierce grandma that I am, I confronted one of the elves and I insisted that my grandchild get her turn to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. I think they saw the fire in my eyes and agreed to let her in.

In spite of that, she did get her American Girl Doll as well. I felt vindicated and pretty good about standing up to the man in the red velvet suit.