Barbie Griffiths

Barbie Griffiths

In the 1988 rom-com Working Girl,  Melanie Griffith played Tess McGill, a secretary working for a difficult boss.  It was an era of big-shouldered suits for women, and big hair with up-swept bangs.  I guess together, they were protection as you pushed your way through the glass ceiling.

Barbie has long since made it to the top of the corporate ladder but will never forget the climb.

After I was born, my mother became a stay-at-home mother.   Years later,  she went back to work as a bookkeeper in another branch of the same department store chain where I'd sold lingerie.  She loved working and she really, really loved payday.

She showed me the bankbook for the joint account she shared with my father.  Beside every deposit she made, there was a tick mark to indicate that that was her money.  Dad observed glumly that only the deposits had tick marks, not the withdrawals.

Wish Book Barbie

Merry Christmas Princess Angel Barbie 2014

The arrival of the Sears Wishbook was much heralded by the kids in our family.  We had a game where we sat with the catalogue on the coffee table and turned the pages.  The goal was to slap your hand on the photo of a toy first while saying, "I want this one!" hence claiming it as your own.  My mother would play it with us and she was fast.

Winter toys like skates and sleds I remember as being popular as were board games and books.  (I wanted to own the complete Nancy Drew series and the Tom Corbett series, the Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and everything by L.M. Montgomery.)

Anyway, a very exciting page displayed the annual Collector Barbie.  Always dressed in a fabulous gown, with jewels and beautiful long hair, I dubbed her the Merry Christmas Princess Angel Barbie.  (I checked, this year's costs $49.00 and is wearing a pretty red and gold dress.)  This is my version for 2014.

About Your Size Barbie

About Your Size Barbie

I went to the mall today to begin my Christmas shopping.

During my misspent youth, I worked at the normal number of low-paying jobs, babysitting, cleaning, day-camp counselor, bartender, food server at military mess, sales staff at a cigarette bar, and retail clerk in a small department store.  I enjoyed all the jobs well enough, most of the time, although  I did decide never to smoke or drink or have children.

Most significantly, I swore a solemn oath never, ever to work retail at Christmas again.  

In November, the racks in the lingerie section of the store where I worked was packed tightly with pyjamas, nightgowns and robes.   Most of the customers were women choosing gifts ... until Christmas Eve.  In the morning, men were waiting outside before the doors opened and all day the department was thronged.  No one seemed to know what size his wife wore.  "She's about your size, maybe a little shorter, taller, fatter, thinner." 

On Boxing Day, all the wives came in to return their Christmas presents.

Miniskirt Barbie

Miniskirt Barbie

Why do we let ourselves be imprisoned by our clothes?

Thomas Raddall in his book Halifax, Warden of the North said that fashionable young ladies in 1795  wore one-piece dresses made of a light fabric such as batiste or lawn.  The garments were cut very low with a ribbon tied around the torso, just under the bust line.  He also said that the young women wore very little underneath and if one of them were to be caught in a sudden rainstorm while walking down the street today, she would be arrested on the spot. 

The fear of incarceration for indecent exposure would have kept me confined to quarters.

I first read Thomas Radall's book when I was still wearing miniskirts.  Miniskirts also restricted fashionable women as the short hemlines were not designed with freedom of movement or modesty in mind.  Any bending at the waist (as one does to sit, leave and enter a car or pick things up),  had to be done very, very carefully. 

Don't bend over, Barbie.   Just lean to the side.  That's right, lean to the side.

Remembrance Day Barbie

Remembrance Day Barbie 2

Remembrance Day Barbie 1

Remembrance Day is not a Statutory Holiday (Private Member's Bills notwithstanding) but it is a day that is marked by many people.

When November 11th falls on the weekend, I can join the somber throngs of people at the War Memorial in Confederation Square.  The children's choir sings in a treble key far above my alto range.  Several religious leaders read invocations.  Dignitaries including the Prime Minister, the Governor General and the Mayor lay wreaths.  The Silver Cross Mother breaks all of our hearts when she steps forward to lay a wreath.  The cannons on Parliament Hill rattle the windows on Sparks Street.  The part that touches me deeply is the Last Post calling everyone to begin the Silence.  The gun sounds at 11:00, the Peace Tower clock begins to toll.  Then after two minutes we hear the second gun and the piper plays the Lament.  It is very moving.

Most years I have to work so I take my class to the War Museum.  Admission is free and many veterans are in attendance to serve as docents. The Lebreton Gallery has big-screen televisions broadcasting the ceremonies at the War Memorial.  The museum has a fantastic feature; a window that allows a shaft of light to pierce the building and illuminate the headstone of an unknown soldier at exactly 11:00 on November 11th. In Regeneration Hall, there is a window that  looks out to the Peace Tower.  Here, casts from the Vimy Ridge Memorial are displayed and you can hear a haunting sound-scape that was recorded during the construction phase. The wind blowing through the unfinished structure had a weird resonance that could be heard for miles.

This year people will particularly remember Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent who was killed in Montreal.  And all will be very aware that they are the National War Memorial where a gunman killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo as he stood guard.

Lest We Forget/ N'oublions Jamais

A Gift of Barbie

Mary's Barbie back view of bow

Mary's Barbie

When I got home from school this week, there was a mystery parcel waiting on my front doorstep sort of like an abandoned baby.  The mailing sticker priced it at <$25.00 but the packaging suggested that the contents were much more valuable.  A solid cardboard box, layers of wide sticky tape, a cascade of pink shipping peanuts, and then two layers of bubble wrap.  This was treasure indeed!  And sure enough,  inside it all, I found gold.

My friend, Mary, lives in the United States now.  She moved there a long time ago and we don't see one another or even e-mail for months sometimes.  But, with kindred spirits, time and distance fade away when we are together and the conversation resumes exactly where we left off.  Mary is very artistic.  She is a painter,a photographer and a master knitter.  Mary has been watching the Barbie Project from her home and her very clever fingers were inspired to make a contribution.

What a gorgeous addition to the Barbie Project!   She is beautiful and Mary's attention to tiny detail is apparent in every stitch.

Blue Satin Barbie

Blue Satin Barbie

It's important to have a knock-them-dead outfit to wear to the ballet.  I am a big fan of the pink tutu and  toe shoes style of ballet although if I have to watch Giselle again I think I will spit. 

My season ballet tickets to the National Art Center are for front row, center seats in the Mezzanine, the lowest balcony.  I think they are the best seats in the house.  I want them to engrave my name on the back of the chair because I sit there for the Pops concerts and the Broadway musicals too.

I always wear comfortable clothes to a show.  Sometimes we have to sit for several hours so tight, itchy clothes are not suitable.  And what if I decide to take a nap?  Besides, I paid to see the performers.  No one paid to see me.

Barbie is a performer even when she is in the audience.