Would Barbie Recognize Me Now
I went to Barnes and Noble the other day and a book about the History of Barbie caught my eye. Most people know a mother created a 3-D paper doll and named it after her daughter Barbara. The reason she invented Barbie was so that little girls could act out their dreams for their future. I guess I knew that was what I was doing but I had never thought about it before. It had me wondering if the life I’m living is letting down myself as a little girl or if I’m living up to my past Barbie playing future fantasies. I will say I have yet to be in a love triangle with Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre (there is still time) but besides that scenario, how does my real life compare to my Barbie’s life?
When I was in my single digits and heavier Barbie playing days, I thought my twenties and early thirties would be like Day and Night Barbie.
I would of course roll out of my pink bed, jog on my tip toes for 45 minutes, shower, make coffee that would not stain my teeth, put on my pink suede suit, my pink-tip heels and head to the office.
Once my long day of working hard and being charming was over I would go home, take off my blazer which would be hard since my arms don’t bend and now reveal my sequined tank top. I would then take my skirt off, flip it around and all the sudden be wearing dazzling cocktail attire. Time for my date with Ken. I hope he is wearing his pink cummerbund tonight. Giggle, giggle looks like he is. Oh, that Ken!
Does my life live up to Barbie’s life?
No and yes! Usually my day starts out with hitting the snooze button, wearing the wrong holiday socks with my special support shoes, finding some matching unisex button down shirt with a Mr. Rogers sweater, putting my hair in a ponytail and heading out the door. I don’t look like a Barbie but as long as I have long hair the kids I teach don’t seem to notice that I’m not wearing a pink suede suit with matching heels.
When I get home from work, I rarely (but sometimes do) put on a cocktail dress but sometimes I shower and curl my hair. Date with Ken? Sometimes. However, I much prefer Derek from Barbie and the Rockers.
So would Barbie be proud? Probably not but she would still invite me to social gatherings. Barbie is a friend to everyone afterall.
How does my life compare to Barbie’s life? I am single like my Barbies always were, hang out with my friends, occasionally go out with a nice fellow who isn’t afraid to wear pink, and try to always have a smile on my face. I don’t live in a dream house, wear a formal gown on a Tuesday, drive a convertable or live off of plastic food but I think Barbie wouldn’t be too disappointed and neither am I. I think living a dream life is just being happy with what God has given you.
Gas Tanks and Satellite Dishes
Today I went on a voyage with my friend Jenne. We were driving across beautiful countryside when I found something catching my eye. I immediately yelled out, “gas tank” as most people do in the middle of a conversation. While explaining myself I continually yelled out “gas tank” ( if you don’t say it, it doesn’t count) because there is a plethora of gas tanks in Southern Indiana. When I was younger and driving the forty minutes to my Grandma’s house, my Dad thought up a game that has stuck with me for decades. My sister and I were to count the gas tanks while my Dad counted the satellite dishes. Sounds fun, right? TOTALLY RIGHT!! My and Mandi’s eyes were peeled for a full 45 minutes. No matter how many times we played this game, we always were just as into it as the first time. Hoping someone new would have gotten a gas tank or gotten rid of their satellite dishes. I can tell you the outcome never changed. There are more gas tanks than satellite dishes on the back roads to Garrison, KY but that didn’t matter to us. We always wanted to play, always wanted to spend time with Dad and especially wanted to beat him at his own game.
I was thinking about how that gas tank was so visible to me and completely invisible to Jenne. How I could see them out of the corner of my eye and behind a house. I was always aware. I started to think about how something that should blend into the background, becomes a focal point.
I started thinking about how a relationship with God, talking with Him daily and reading His word, makes Him more visible. We see Him without trying. We see Him in His creation but also in each other. But when we don’t know God or we have put Him on the back burner of our life, we aren’t aware that He is right next to us wanting us to notice Him.
So if you see God in the big things or the little things, don’t be afraid to yell it out. The person next to you might not see Him but you can be the one to point Him out. “Gas Tank!”
Romans 1:20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
My Life With Freckles 