Current Mood : Stunned
Spent on Doll Amazement : $6.
Days like today are why I keep going. To flea markets, yard sales, and the like, even when I have a big $5. and change in my wallet. Sure, it's nice to get out of the house for a bit, but I've had the most amazing finds, and I hardly go out at all...
Screwed up my courage when I saw the Flea Market banners up once more, and took in the bag of culled Barbies to the car set seller. We chatted a while, and I left the bag with her - her name is Brenda - and toured the booths, so she'd have time to see if there was anything she wanted. I know, I'd intended to donate those dolls, but she had a Little Disney Princess Cinderella in a dress I wanted, and if I could trade her for it, it wouldn't cost anything. Besides, I'm sure to garner more Barbies for philanthropy later. But I still feel a bit bad ‘cause I didn't donate them.
Went to one of my favorite sellers first- she has trunks of pre-loved dolls for a buck each, with clothes and accessories for 50c. And I could not believe my eyes. She didn't have that last week ! My astonished vision was captured by a near-perfect Jem Rockin' Roadster ! While I'd have preferred the white ‘Glitter and Gold' version, this first-year model was inches away, and looked to be in great shape. I asked, and she handed it to me - wow. All the stickers were intact, as was the steering wheel, clutch, and hood ornament, all stuff that typically is missing or broken on yer average toy vehicle. The chrome-colored parts showed little wear, and all four tires had the big pink hubcaps, and the axels were straight and rolled easily.
Confession Corner : I have wanted one of these since Jem debuted on TV. In 1986. But I was ‘too old' for dolls and stuff (snort !), and there were other ways a near-broke 20-year-old could spend $30. back then. Like on groceries. When I got back into dolls, especially around 2002, I haunted eBay for them. And the shipping alone put them out of my reach, much less with the $20. to $50. they often ended on.
So I was trembling a bit inside when I asked what she wanted for it. I was trying to think of a way to come up with whatever she asked, recalling bank balances and change-jar funds...'Oh, that ? How about five bucks ?" I nearly fell through the concrete floor. Yes, yes, I'd take it ! Fumbled for my wallet, and had the cash out before she'd opened the bag. Mine. Minemineminemine...mine !
And then I found a fantastic Peter Pan record album, complete with storybook, that Dearest Son would love and a ballerina Belle doll, still in her gold-dress tutu. Luckily, the change was enough for these goodies, too. Wow. Belle's hair was a solid three-part wooly dreadlock, but I didn't need another doll, I only wanted the dress, ya know... mmhmmm....
Looked around the rest of the sellers' offerings in a daze, then floated back down to a sweaty earth and drifted back to Brenda's Barbie booth. She loved the dolls, what did I want for them ? So I got the Cinderella I wanted, and two other Barbies - one in another Sweet 16 pink dress, another for her cool blouse, and that was all I wanted. The one I wanted last week had sold. Oh, well. Happily, I gathered it all and headed to the car, the Roadster clutched in my arms snugly. Seller didn't have a bag big enough for it, but I didn't care who saw me carrying it. It got several stares.
Broke and still slightly stunned, I came straight home. Popped open the trunk on the Roadster and added a 9V battery. I can see I forgot to close it for the photo shoot, darn it. Radio works, but not very well. An antenna would probably help. The hood storage space held a small surprise - the oversized jacket that went to Barbie, when she was Barbie and the Sensations. Since it was slightly oversized on Ken, I wasn't surprised to see it stored with a Jem prop. I'd scoured the seller's doll trunks for Jem misc, but didn't even find a single shoe. Like all the Sensations jackets, the ‘leatherette' sleeves had decomposed badly, and looked leprous. I may have to play with that a bit later.
Nibbled on some leftovers for lunch, then got a better look at Ballerina Belle. This was gonna be a challenge. Her hair was beyond wooly and matted, and I tried to convince myself to let the doll go, I just wanted the tutu. But I didn't believe that, and the slightly worried expression this line of dolls has just pushed me over the edge, so I grabbed some conditioner samples, the brush and comb set, and a good pair of scissors and got to work. You'll see her tomorrow - I think I did a good job on her.
I'm still amazed when I look over and see it. I've watched the commercial for it on YouTube - otherwise I would have tried to open the hood from the windshield, not the 'Jem' hood ornament' - numerous times, and had fun looking at Jem sites. What a nice day !
