When Barbie first came out I asked Mom for one and she said to ask Santa.  You can be sure that I did, but he must not have gotten my letter because he never brought me one. It wasn't long before I was old enough to know Santa wasn't real so I went back to asking her for one, but every year I got an imitation. I was so jealous over my girlfriend's bubble cut and her sister's blonde ponytail that I couldn't stand it so I asked Mom: "Why can't I have a real Barbie?" to which she replied: "Because we can't afford it." All too quickly I sarcastically replied: "With all the money you spent on fake ones you could've bought a REAL one!" She reached out and smacked my head backwards so fast all I saw was the vapor trial her hand left behind!  : )

I finally got one for Christmas, but it was my Aunt Betty who gave me the newest Barbie that came out. THE FASHION QUEEN!! From then on when she would ask me what I wanted for Christmas each year my answer was always the same... "Anything Barbie!" 

Oh, Mom finally did buy me a Barbie for Christmas one year and I didn't even ask!  It was back in the early 80's when she gave me a Crystal Barbie and naturally I had to smart off saying: "Gee you're only 20 years late. Did it take that long to save up the money?" We both fell out laughing.

Now I have quite a collection of Barbie dolls and love to make rooms for them. I've done 11 and have no space left for to do any more! My son has a house of his own so we converted his old bedroom into a den and my husband built a doll house for my Barbie into the closet. It's really big with 7 rooms!