A few months ago I was taken back. I was transported to the past where fond childhood memories were clear as day. It was at a craft fair that took place around the Christmas holiday. I attended with my neighbor. Many rooms were decorated with items for sale. There were many trees set up with ornaments for sale and there were many people doing their holiday shopping.
It wasn’t until I went upstairs to a particular room that I experienced my flashback. The flash from the past was a clear as the days of old. I was in utter amazement in what was sitting under a decorated tree. I discover in this room, a childhood friend. Something so familiar and missed that seeing it brought tears to my eyes. REALLY! I dropped to the floor on my knees to get a closer look. I reached out to hold this dear object and I picked it up gingerly. WOW! It was meant to be! Finding this lost treasure from my past was a sign that I needed to buy it for myself. For a second or two, I needed to reward myself and take back, reclaim what was a big part of my life in the past. I had to have that doll!
This is Mrs. Beasley and me. She is my blast from the past doll.
Mrs. Beasley was a fabric and plastic doll made by Mattel in 1967. Today she is considered vintage. This particular Mrs.Beasley doll is a vintage re-make with the recordings of Cheryl Ladd as the grandmotherly voice used in her string activated voice box encased in the doll’s cotton fabric torso area. The doll was designed to resemble a grandmotherly type figure. She also had a string that you pulled to make her “talk”. The phrases she spoke were of things a Grandmother might say like: “I do believe you are the nicest little friend I ever had.” and “Would you like to try on my glasses, you may if you wish.”
The doll was made popular by the sit-com, family show starring Brian Keith. It was called: Family Affair. Keith played an uncle who was put in charge of these adorable twin children named Buffy and Jody. Mr. French was a supporting character as the butler. It was one of those feel good shows that I just loved watching as a child on television.
Buffy had a Mrs. Beasley doll on the show and they were pretty popular dolls. The fabric of the doll’s body was blue and white poka-dot. It was a very stiff-stuffed doll with arms, torso and legs, that were solid and great for wear and tear. That doll was durable. Mrs. Beasley came with her own plastic granny glasses and a hair net. Funny now to think about those factors that seemed appealing to have on a doll.
I earned my own money to buy my Mrs. Beasley by making loom pot holders! I remember making many of the square loom pot holders in hopes that those in my neighborhood would buy them so that I could have enough money for my Mrs. Beasley doll. They did, so you know I had a fond appreciation for her because of the added efforts in obtaining her.
The funny part about finding this doll that day were the comments I got while I was holding her while shopping the rest of that shopping spree. Women would stop to talk about her and tell me that they had a Mrs. Beasley doll too or that they knew someone who had one when they were growing up. One lady even asked if I were planning on buying it for sure because she would consider it if I did not want to purchase it. I did buy it and I guess I was not ready for the reaction of my family when I brought my tiny treasure home.
My blast from the past doll.
The cats found her curious but were not impressed with it. And my husband did not know why I “needed” a doll at my age. My daughter thought it was “creepy” and said she was going to give her nightmares. Oh well! She is mine. I have been reunited with my friend, Mrs.Beasley!
Do you have a flash from the past item that you are attached to for personal or creative reasons? Do share. Creativity is meant to be appreciated.
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