My oldest daughter’s Dad bought her a doll that was from a Mattel collection called My Child, that came out in 1985, after the Cabbage Patch dolls had been the rave. These were much better looking and much more of a unique doll, that soon became a collector’s item, as they were only made from ’85 to 1988. Not of of them were the same. And now they are Vintage dolls. My daughter loved her doll that we named Lolly Madonna. This doll went through all the procedures leading up to the open heart surgery and long recover my daughter had when she was nine. The nurses even dressed Lolly in little scrubs and a scrub cap and mask, (where they got them that small, I haven’t a clue) and Lolly went into the OR with Boo, my daughter.
When Boo was turned 16, her dad couldn’t make it home for her birthday, as he was working out of State. Of course he called her and sent a great locket for a gift, and even asked about Lolly. He was supposed to be home ten days after her birthday. He never made it home as he died of a massive heart attack that day while roofing a house. Our daughter was devastated. She and her Dad were so very close. He was a totally awesome, loving father. and husband.
When my daughter married and moved into her house, her dogs ate Lollys body and Boo was able to save her head. I have tried for years to find a doll I could decapitate (not to be morbid, but I am sometimes) that has a body like Lolly had, in order to fix the doll for Boo. I had no luck. Finally after looking on eBay, (actually for dolls to take heads off of…) I found a My Child doll, exactly like Lolly only with longer hair. I mentioned that they all were different in some way. This one was the 1985 doll, just like Lolly and even had original clothes on it. I knew this one wouldn’t replace Lolly, but I could not refuse to take a chance on bidding (something I’ve never ever done) on her. I won. She came today.
When Boo came over, I gave her the doll and told her it was Lolly’s long lost sister who had come home to stay, since Lolly would need her after her reconstruction. I also told her the doll was from her father and I, as there were a whole lot of things that seriously seemed like he was actually helping me get this doll for his daughter, which I truly believe he was. His family live in Portland Oregon. The doll collector was from there. I talk to my dead husband all the time and I told him to help me win the bid. All through the auction, I led the bid. It was a whim that I did this. I would never have until I saw this doll. When I won and she got here, the name on the return address was my our last name until I got remarried. And the first name started with a C, which is what my husband’s name started with. What are the chances of all of this? Needless to say my daughter started crying, and loved her doll. She is not a replacement for Lolly, because I will indeed have her all fixed up as soon as I find a body for her. But none the less, all of the signs and there were more than what I have written about, made my daughter and I and even her skeptical step dad and siblings, truly believe that Boo’s father helped me do this for her. The love of a father doesn’t stop even if he isn’t with us anymore in person.