A few days ago
Mereknits wrote a fascinating post about a family heirloom that happened to be a doll. I was like a kid in class with their hand up yelling "me, too" in the comments. Unlike Mere's lovingly preserved Dinah, our poor Zelda has always been an afterthought.
She came to us from my mother's side of the family. Her story, I'm no longer sure of and I'm sad to say there's no one to tell it anymore.
One of these folks was her owner. That's my mom as a baby on her grandmother's lap. That's her mom on the other side of the bench with her dad in between. That's three generations of proud Allens there.
Zelda spent most of her life with us naked in the toy box or hidden away in a closet because she scared the daylights out of us as kids. She was as far away from Barbie was you can get. The markings on her back tell me she's one of the highly collectible Schoenhut dolls from 1911. I took it upon myself to paint her face back on when I was in my teens. I gave her nails, eyes and lips and thereby ruined any value she might have. Kids.
After we all grew up and moved out, Mom bought her a wig and dressed her up. I made the little taffeta dress for her. She spent many years sitting in a little rocker next to Mom's fake fireplace. Now she sits and guards Mom's ashes while she waits for Daddio to join her for their final trip to the Bay. Golly, that's a tough one. Going down memory lane isn't so much fun anymore.
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Hooray for Zelda! She's been through it all. A true survivor, if you will. Maybe we can all learn from her.
ReplyDeleteWith a name like Zelda she needed to have her toes painted!! Love the photo you shared of the 3 generations. Zelda's teeth are a little creepy...but I like her nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI also told Meredith that I have a doll like that, also inherited from my mother. She scared the daylights out of our children too. She always sat next to the fireplace at our house. Now I have her on a ledge overlooking the dining room. She's still in her original dress but has some cracks on her body, so I don't think she has any value either. I'm so sorry about your dad. Enjoy the moments you can with him, that's all the advice I have to give. Have a wonderful day my friend!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Betsy
I think you should make her a whole new wardrobe - something new for every season and holiday!
ReplyDeleteHello Zelda, you look like you have been loved over and over again, sort of like the Velveteen Rabbit. I am so happy I inspired you to write about this precious treasure.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Memories....she is an adorable doll; I rather like her and I'm glad you still have her. She is a treasure.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Vera ---- those teeny tiny teeth! YIKES!
ReplyDeleteBut, I'm so glad you still have her.
Yikes!!! That's one spooky doll! It's late and I'm going to have nightmares now.
ReplyDelete