It seems fitting that these two should live out the rest of their days together; they were stalwart companions of mine in my tender years. The gingerbread man came first – I called him “Gingie.” He was very important to my bedtime routine and sense of security when the lights were off. I’d clutch him close and go to sleep with a sense that all was well. One time I woke up in the night and realized that he’d fallen off the bed. I wailed with the inconsolable grief of a child until my dad came running to see what had happened. “My Gingie fell ouf of bed!!” I cried. I’m sure that to him my grief seemed out of proportion to the event, but he good-naturedly picked Gingie up off the floor and gave him back to me. You may be wondering why I didn’t just do that myself. I had reasons – very good reasons. 1. I was in the top bunk, and 2. Everybody knows there are monsters under the bed just waiting to grab your legs. Good old Gingie used to have eyes made of felt and glued onto his face, but somewhere along the line, all my affectionate clutching must have rubbed them off.
Sylvia came along a little later when I was ready for dolls. At least sort of ready. The first thing I did after getting her as a gift was to cut her eyelashes off. I guess I was still fairly young and stupid. She came with her name and I mis-read it as “Saliva,” which brought amusement to all of my elders, but embarrassed me to pieces when I realized my error. Sylvia was a grown woman, old enough to be married apparently. My mom made other clothes for her, but I was awfully fond of the wedding dress that came with her – so lacy and elegant! She also had a red velvet coat with a hood, and a fluffy white muff to keep her hands warm. Sylvia and I didn’t talk much – the age disparity between us was just too great – but I loved her just the same. She never complained about what an insensitive brute I was to cut off her beautiful eyelashes, even though they did not grow back. It’s hard to find friends like that.
I’d love to hear about your old friends – I know you had them.
I’ll probably delete this some time in the good old a. of m.
Lynniebeemuseoday 