By Sue Murphy
My last batch of catalogs brought a beautiful, full-color offering from American Girl. I was excited because I now have two granddaughters who will soon be leaving the squeaky toy phase and be ready for a doll with actual clothes.
American Girl dolls are well off in that department. They have pj’s and swimsuits and sparkly vests that cross-body zip, glasses and headbands and velveteen purses. You can purchase luggage to tote it all home to their trundle bed and teacart and sound-surround chair. Years ago, I accompanied a grandmother friend to the American Girl flagship store in Chicago, where the dolls can go to shop and have their hair done and take actual tea with their happy owners. It was all great fun.
If you’re thinking of American Girl as a Barbie clone, you’re wrong. First of all, there’s no Ken lurking in the background. Secondly, each American Girl doll has a special name, a detailed backstory, a personal philosophy of life. Yes, the company produces more than one of each model, but the dolls are offered as distinct individuals that your child takes home to be part of the family.
So, I was more than a bit surprised when the catalog’s back cover featured a picture of a beautiful little blonde doll with the caption, “Brave Goodbye…Say farewell to Caroline before she moves into the American Girl Archives.”
Archives? What kind of trick was this? While Caroline might, indeed, be brave about her goodbye (Her mantra is “Believe in yourself.”), I hardly think the move was her idea. This was forced retirement, my friends, and I’ve reached an age at which that really gets my goat.
Was there any indication the decision was coming or was the poor child blindsided? Did they tell Caroline they were unhappy with her work? Did they give her a chance to turn things around? Has American Girl considered the ripple effect of their decision? What will happen to Caroline’s family shipyard? Will all those people be out of work? What about Uncle Aaron’s farm? I shudder to think what will happen to Caroline’s pet calf, Garnet.
Apparently, this is not the first time this archive nonsense has happened. Caroline will be joining Molly and Ivy and Marie-Grace Gardner. I’m sure they each told their friends they were leaving to spend more time with their families, but we all know what really happened.
What about the years of service the poor dears rendered? Does that count for nothing?
Brave goodbye my foot. Caroline is being pushed out to make room for flashier models. The company’s new phase is called Truly Me, a program in which little girls create dolls who look just like themselves, hair color, eye color, jazzy new clothes. There’s even a new line of pets, although I noticed that none of them was a calf.
Yes, a doll that looks just like you would be the ultimate selfie, and each one of those little girls is special, but they need to realize that the person next to them is special, too. Kids might have learned a few things from Caroline. Have they outfoxed enemy soldiers or survived an icy dip in Lake Ontario? Probably not.
I’m sure American Girl will give Caroline a big send off, wheel in a cake and present her with a tiny gold watch. She’ll stand there smiling like she has for all those loyal years, wearing her woolen spencer jacket and wide-brimmed hat.
All I can say is…watch your back, Kit and Addy and Samantha. You could be next.
