August 25, 2007
I know it has been a while, but somehow Chicago didn’t seem quite as blog-worthy after the adventures of Bangalore. Enter the American Girl Place… (Dramatic music please.) My mom and Emma are in Chicago this weekend, and low and behold, Tomboy Emma has discovered the wonders of pink and jewelry and yes, dolls. So we made an afternoon of the American Girl store downtown. It isn’t nearly the cult experience that I’d anticipated. Don’t get me wrong, these people are excellent at squeezing money out of parents (including my own sensible spender of a mom). But somehow it is very sweet and innocent inside the store. Emma was beside herself. So Emma brought my own (now 21 year old) American Girl, Samantha, along for the ride. When I was little I used to dress Sam in her perfect little outfits with matching tights and ribbons. Though Emma is suddenly a girl, she is certainly no priss. Suffice it to say that Samantha’s second life is very different from the first. Regardless, Samantha was the hit of the place. We learned from one very eager employee that because the doll was an original (and had good eyelashes, soft skin, and a white cloth body - who knew…) she would be worth at least $500 on eBay, naked. Though I’d really like to strip that doll down to her white cloth body and get her on eBay as quickly as possible, I don’t think it’s quite in Emma’s plans. She bought a Felicity doll yesterday. Now the two girls can have tea. I never thought I’d see the day that Emma would have 2 dolls in miniature chairs sipping hot invisible tea from tiny flowered cups. Before you get too worried, rest assured, the tights and ribbons don’t match.

I know it has been a while, but somehow Chicago didn’t seem quite as blog-worthy after the adventures of Bangalore. Enter the American Girl Place… (Dramatic music please.)

My mom and Emma are in Chicago this weekend, and low and behold, Tomboy Emma has discovered the wonders of pink and jewelry and yes, dolls. So we made an afternoon of the American Girl store downtown. It isn’t nearly the cult experience that I’d anticipated. Don’t get me wrong, these people are excellent at squeezing money out of parents (including my own sensible spender of a mom). But somehow it is very sweet and innocent inside the store. Emma was beside herself.

So Emma brought my own (now 21 year old) American Girl, Samantha, along for the ride. When I was little I used to dress Sam in her perfect little outfits with matching tights and ribbons. Though Emma is suddenly a girl, she is certainly no priss. Suffice it to say that Samantha’s second life is very different from the first.

Regardless, Samantha was the hit of the place. We learned from one very eager employee that because the doll was an original (and had good eyelashes, soft skin, and a white cloth body - who knew…) she would be worth at least $500 on eBay, naked.

Though I’d really like to strip that doll down to her white cloth body and get her on eBay as quickly as possible, I don’t think it’s quite in Emma’s plans. She bought a Felicity doll yesterday. Now the two girls can have tea. I never thought I’d see the day that Emma would have 2 dolls in miniature chairs sipping hot invisible tea from tiny flowered cups. Before you get too worried, rest assured, the tights and ribbons don’t match.

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