I would like to introduce you to the lifelong friend and prized possession Kathy gave me.
She's a cute but funny little thing, about 6" tall, with her face all scrunched up into a kiss-pucker. In all my 5-year-old creativity, I named her Kissy! Somewhere along the years, her original turquoise calico dress got ruined, so Mom made her a new pink flowered one out of sewing remnants. Somewhere along the years I decided that her hair was sticking up on one side and tried to iron it flat when Grandma had the iron out on laundry day. As a result of my early hairdressing attempt, she sports a rather pre-punk asymmetrical 'do...and I have a strong aversion to the smell of singed plastic!
Well, she ain't purdy, but she's mine and I loved her as much as any little girl has ever loved a doll! Kissy spent my childhood years displayed on my dresser, a constant reminder of Kathy - both of them.
To this day when I see Kissy I think of how important it is for the young to have role models to lead them toward their adult selves...and I hope that I am a good one for the little ones I care for every day.
