Until a few days ago, I would never have imagined that Barbie and I had anything in common.
My hair has never been blond, I’ve never wanted to be an astronaut or the President of the United States (well, maybe I’ve wanted that from time to time), and my measurements are, shall we say, a tad more average than hers. But it’s been a big year for the perennial glamour girl who couldn’t choose any one profession over all these years.
But this month, the playing field has evened up a bit. Barbie and I are now both 50.
It’s been quite a journey. I was only about five years old when I first met her and she seemed like an “older woman” then. She’s aged a bit more gracefully than I have, damn her — her clothes from high school still fit and she doesn’t have any gray hair (I don’t think anyone has ever asked the famous Clairol question, “Does she or doesn’t she?”), though I hear Ken is still stringing her along.
So I’m wondering whether Barbie has gotten that little note from the AARP asking her to join their club. I tossed the one I got a few months ago, refusing to accept the fact that I am anywhere near retirement. As a mom of a third grader, my vocabulary doesn’t have room for that ‘R’ word.
Turns out my feelings then were more than an exercise in vanity. In light of what’s happened with the economy since my 50th birthday (please, don’t go blaming the Dow on me), neither Barbie nor I will be retiring anytime soon. I was tempted to ask for the “senior” rate on my movie tickets this weekend, though, just to save a few bucks.
The good news for Barbie is that her job doesn’t seem to be on the chopping block, while I am here at my computer hoping that I can keep scrounging up some paying freelance gigs to make up the money that PunditGirl’s 529 college fund. I’m not too worried about the guy who’s trying to get her banned in West Virginia – he thinks Barbie is bad, but apparently likes guns enough to get an ‘A’ from the National Rifle Association. But I don’t think his Barbie stunt is going to cut into her sales anytime soon.
I admit I had plenty of mixed feelings when people started giving Barbies to PunditGirl as gifts, especially the ones that were uber-platinum blond with the big poofy wedding skirts. But I think I’d rather have her playing with a doll who has at least thought about being a doctor than running around the house with toy guns, which I’m guessing that West Virginia lawmaker would have no problem with.
Now that Barbie is 50, she may be feeling like it’s time for a makeover. I know she doesn’t need any Botox, but she might be just the right age to turn into Activist Barbie! I have a feeling the two of us could start some good campaigns together!
March 9th, 2009 at 9:17 am
I think Barbie did have some Botox. Her lips look pretty puffy and pert. I would LOVE to see an AARP card for Barbie. My girlfriend has one and it scores some great hotel deals and discounts. 50 is the new 30–especially, as you say, because it doesn’t mean you are anywhere close to retirement.
March 9th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I was never a hug fan of Barbie as a child either but I agree with your post- you have to give the girl some credit! She has had so many ‘careers’ be that a Doctor, an Astronaut or a Ballerina and young girls can see that if Babrie can do it, maybe they can too! Barbie had a huge birthday party in NYC a few weeks ago and I wrote a little about it for the Smithsonian Channel Blog if anyone wanted to know more about her 50th celebration- it was a party for a queen!
March 9th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Now that Barbie is fifty, it’s easier to look at her as an okay kind of gal, isn’t it? It makes her a little less intimidating, I think. She just needs to be reshaped a bit, to look more like her contemporaries.
March 9th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Bad news PunditMom. Barbie’s clothing from high school does not fit. Since the 1970′s ‘superstar’ body Barbie has been getting just a bit wider in the hips, and a bit less perky in the breast. With the mid 90′s redesign, the one that got her a belly button her waist got much bigger.
Her feet got bigger as well.
She is more than just a blond, Barbie comes in brunette as well. Her friend Midge (now married to Allen with 2 kids – the famous pregnant doll) is a red head with freckles.
March 9th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I have one of the first Barbies. Sheisn’t blond. She has short dark hair and was (supposedly)modeled after Jackie O. Now my granddaughers are playing with Barbies…
March 10th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
At 50 years young Barbie deserves a new sports car. And Pundit mom you deserve a nice flashy Mustang as well. After all if we can’t have a midlife crisis car-what good is it getting to the point of midlife:)
March 12th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Glam Gals,
We admit, we love Barbie and glad she is getting some good press.
She was our inspiration and filled hours of our childhood with creative playtime!
She’s had to endure her having her head ripped off and countless other offensives over the years, yet is still smiling with full on lipstick and eyeliner.
So glad she is still around.We could all use a little more glamor these days.
March 14th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Actually the AARP newsletter (I’m only 42 and so is the hubby, but he’s mistakenly listed as 80 in Nexis/lexis, so we’ve been getting AARP for years) has a great picture of Barbie if she had aged. Gray hair, crows feet. I stuck in on my blog in a post about Barbie’s birthday.
March 14th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Well, I sure would love a little sports car. I had actually toyed with trying to find a way to wrangle up a used one, but then the economy tanked.
I saw the Barbie photo where she had aged. It made me fell better. Not big of me, but I couldn’t help it!
March 20th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
After 50 years Barbie is still in great shape; how does she do it?