They over produced

Every year in the toy business, there was one outstanding toy that every child wants.   The year was 1983 and Coleco produced Cabbage Patch Dolls.   When Allen and I went to a toy show in Syracuse, N.Y. we saw these unusual dolls packed 6 to a case.   They didn't appeal to me at all and I remember saying to Allen, do you think we'll be able to sell 6.    I didn't know at the time that we could have sold 6,000.


Cabbage Patch became such a hit and were in high demand by every little girl.    The few that we were able to order were in high demand.   Allen tried to match the recipient's eyes with Cabbage.


These dolls came named and with a birth certificate.  When we would call a customer that we had them, Allen would put it in a big black garbage bag, so that they wouldn't getting mugged on the way home.    People called us from all over Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, begging us to take out the dolls from lay a ways...they would pay us 3 times what they were worth.


My honest husband never gouged or went one penny more than they were worth.   We had integrity.


Anyway we were able to get almost excact knock offs of this doll, but everyone turned up their nose, even though they were under $10.00..


We did get a fair amount of black Cabbage Patch, but the little black girls bulked at them...but the white kids bought them.   Taught me a lesson.


And now, needless to say, these Cabbage Patch dolls are not collective and have no value.  It was because Coleco manufactured too many instead of holding back which would have made them very desirable.


Our supplier in Syrancuse opened a store about 15 minutes from us selling cabbage patch dolls that he was stockpiled.


This was completely unethical and we never bought from them again.

Little Shane leaving infanthood!

Thanks to Eric, Becky and Skype I'm watching my darling Shane grow.   I'm seeing him develop week by week...and oh, he seems so brilliant to me.
I'd forgotten how important each day is in the growing of a baby.   He responds to everything and is so alert to the world he lives in.   This little self has captured my heart and I want such a good life for him
Memories start flooding back into my mind when Eric says..."how big is my baby"...and Shane stretches his little arms as wide as he can with a big smile on his face.    My own mother used to say that to me...and I said it to Paul and Jeff when they were infants.   Edna Ferber wrote this novel in 1924...and it's still popular, even Sesame Street uses this phrase.




He smiles constantly, happy in himself, while playing with every one of his toys...and some things that aren't his toys, like empyting the drawers with all his clothes.   Then he tries to put them on over his head.


Is this cute or not!   Eric tells him to do pushups and this little darling gets down on his tummy and actually does them.   I couldn't believe he could understand this...or manage this feat.


With a little encouragement from Becky, our Shane selects the book he wants to read and actually looks at the pictures and turns the pages.   I can just tell he's going to be an intellect.


Shane's nanny was teaching him 'sign language' and Eric stopped that in a hurry.  It appears that our little fellow was pointing to what he wanted instead of speaking.   Nanny had good intentions but it was curbing our little one's speech.


Shane got his first haircut and cried like every child does when they first have to sit in the barber chair on their mummy's laps.




As Eric was dishing out ice cream for him, he said pleeease.  He's learning manners.  Every moment is a learning experience for this little guy.




  I loved it.  I even found it very amusing when he threw a little temper tantrum  because Eric wouldn't let him open a door....and this little soul was adamant that's what he wanted.








I  watch all his antics which delights me reminding me how great my life is to be living in this time of high technology.   This little boy ended our visit by throwing kisses at me and waving bye bye.

3 generations of male love!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Paul is my sister Elayne's son...but a very special nephew to me.  His son Eric is Paul's older son....and baby Shane is Eric and Becky's baby.

How I adore and cherish my family.    They give my life real meaning and for that I am  so grateful.

We all share the same DNA!

Tons of Carbs

Once every couple of weeks, Virginia drives me to visit our friend Harriet who is in assisted living.    Most of the residents are also suffering from some sort of dementia.    I feel like a very shallow person because this is not my favorite place....maybe because I think someone might feel the need to visit me there one day.

Anyway, I cleared the date with Harriet and Virginia suggested we dine at Friendly's because they give you a free sundae at the end of your meal.

Who doesn't love ice cream??  It didn't take any convincing for me to say.....okay!

We both ordered a delicious turkey burger, with avocados and tomatoes and the bun was toasted so it wasn't at all soggy.

Along with this feast came mounds of French fried potatoes, very crisp and minus salt.  

We both went to town.  I didn't quite finish my burger or fries because, needless to say, I had to save room for my sundae.

Virginia relished her lunch as much as I did.   Then our charming waitress came over to take our order for the sundaes.    She asked if I wanted whipped cream and a maraschino cherry and I said absolutely. 

   Smart girl that she is, Virginia said no.   

Well this  picture tells it all....and I could barely reach into it, it was so high.   I ate most of the whipped cream but by the time I came to the best part, the ice cream, I was all full up.

Lesson to this....eyes are bigger than stomachs especially when one eye is scheduled for a cataract.

I'm still salivating.

fff