Rara (formerly Sahsez) ditched her Barbie collection today. Each time I fill up a big orange garbage bag for the Sally Ann, I ask if it's time to get rid of them yet. Previously, she has been reluctant to give them up, and I haven't pushed the issue, because she still does enjoy playing with them occasionally.
The play is different than it used to be. These days, the only thing Barbie ever does is go to the salon, where her expert cutter/colourist (Rara) gives her a variety of outlandish hairstyles using kitchen shears and Crayola markers. There was a time when I would have forbid her from cutting or dying her dolls' hair. Now I can't remember why I would have done that. It may have been because a younger Rara would have regretted giving Barbie a buzz-cut. But today's Rara, nine(!)-years-old, elle ne regrette rien.
Today, Rara is playing with her Best Friend of six years, formerly known as Wolfman. Because they go to different schools, keeping their friendship alive has required a bit of effort on the part of all the parents. Tobias and I have been more than happy to make that effort, however, because BestFriend nee Wolfman is the only friend Rara's ever had that has been a consistently good influence on her, challenged her creatively, and never given us a moment's trouble. Except for that one time...but never mind, that was 99% Rara's fault.
When BestFriend showed up on the doorstep today clad head to toe in green and monkey, Rara nearly swooned, and I, knowing that monkeys and the colour green are her two favourite things in the universe, nearly swooned on her behalf. A trip to Sears has been scheduled to acquire similar duds.
She gave up the Barbies, by the way, but not the Bratz. Not under any circumstances the Bratz. Which is sort of a relief, actually, because the Bratz (three, I think) are new as of Christmas '07 and I don't imagine Grandma would be over the moon about them having such a short tenure. I remember a time when I was horrified to have a Bratz doll in my home. Now I can't remember why I cared, though I will be dead and buried before she will be allowed to watch the movie.
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