January, 1959

Dear Barbie,

Let me just say up front that I have never wanted to actually be you. I don’t want to have your little pointy feet or your impossibly tiny waist. I think your eyes are beautiful but strange. You have on lots of makeup. I don’t know anyone with those eyes or that waist. My parents got you for my 7th birthday to play with while we drove all the way to Illinois to see my grandmother. I think they are just trying to keep me occupied, not give me a role model.

She cost a whole $3 and came in a black striped swimsuit. That doesn’t seem very appropriate to wear to lunch or to garden club, so they got me one outfit for her, this sweater set with the gray skirt, called “Sweater Girl.” It came with these high heels and knitting stuff, but they are just pretend.

I love her hair. She has curly bangs and a long pony tail. I didn’t wait very long to take it down and brush it out, and now it doesn’t look as pretty as it did. But I couldn’t help it.

She came with this book that showed other outfits you can get for her, but they cost like $2.50 and the one I really want is Enchanted Evening. It costs $4, but maybe I can save up. Clothes are expensive, but important.

Also Mommy said she would sew me some outfits. She’s a pretty good sewer, so that will be good, but not like getting real ones.

January, 1960

Dear Barbie,

I got Enchanted Evening for Christmas and it came with a real mink stole and everything!

Since I wrote you last time, I got some other outfits, and Mommy made me some cute clothes, too. I also got a case for your clothes and accessories. I like the accessories the best. They are tiny and I have to be really careful not to lose anything. I keep the shoes in a clear box.

KK and Minda and Stevvi have dolls now and we play at each other’s houses when we can’t go outside. We each choose a place and set up our pretend houses. I have a bedspread and pillow for your bedroom. We play til we hear Stevvi’s mom call her home. Then we stop.

January, 1961-63

Hey, Barbs,

All the younger kids like Leigh Ann and Carol are getting you now and all your friends: Midge and Skipper and Ken. I don’t have a Ken. But sometimes I will get somebody else’s and pretend that you and him are going on a date. And I’ll smash you together and make kissing sounds. It’s gross but fun, too.

I have a nurse outfit for you, and a baby sitting set, but mostly you just go shopping, go out on dates and take vacations. That’s more fun than going to an office, I think. Those are the things I want to do when I grow up: change clothes a lot, decorate my house, go shopping and sometimes kiss Ken like they do on the soap operas.

That will be the most fun.

Love,
Cindy

PS: When I am grown and it’s 2023, I will spend 3 hours playing with you, and dressing you in all your outfits and then taking pictures. I will also wish I had a gotten a Ken.