Current Mood : Elated !
Spent on doll stuff : $25.
Current Image Notes : Here it is, from a 1975 Sears Christmas Wishbook. I can't wait to put it together tomorrow - you know you'll get photos !
Today started off early for a Saturday. DFIL dropped by for a few minutes last night - he loves his latest Betty Boop doll ! - and said he'd be here around 7 -8 am to drop off Dearest Son. So I set an alarm and hopped up at 7, got dressed, fed DC and Friday, etc. Let Beloved Hubby sleep in, he was resting so comfortably, and there was no reason for both of us to be up. Dearest got home about 9:30. (sigh) Oh, well. I had some quiet ‘me' time with the dawn, so it's all still good !
Realized that, even as early as 8am, I was watching the clock, checking how far away noon was. OK, that pretty much told me I wanted the Barbie Fashion Plaza, and I had the funds already, and Molly was in fine shape ... should I get it, if it's still available ? That was really the big question, and I examined it from all angles. As well as the Christmas catalog photos of it I found on a couple of websites. It was funny that it was only available for a couple of years, and the price ranged from $15. to $20. And here I am, thirty-five years later, hoping I wouldn't pay not much more for it.
I was getting jittery with excitement as the clock hands spun past 10am, then 11. I had my shoes on at 11:30, even though it was a ten-minute drive, max. While I would have considered arriving a few minutes early and camping out in Molly for a bit, Beloved Hubby had to do some touch-up for Aunt S., and I didn't want to have Dearest stuck in the car for ten minutes on my account. So we left at ten ‘til... and drove into a serious parking mess.
Evidently, half the town did precisely what we were doing - noted a few interesting items yesterday, then came back at noon or a bit earlier today in hopes of snagging a better deal. We parked about eight houses down, it was the closest we could get without being caught in the snarl further down. Ya'll know me, I'd rather park with an eye towards leaving than drive around for a better space for ten minutes. We went straight into the room where the Townhouse and Plaza were yesterday...and there was nothing on the table. Well, darn. I sighed and looked over where Dearest had spotted some nice models of vintage cars - there it was ! They'd just rearranged the room when stuff sold. I took a second look at the Townhouse (Beloved had given me enough cash for both) but knew I really didn't want it, even if I did change the ‘folded felt' backdrops. I eagerly reached for the Plaza and giggled a bit before I could stop m'self. At least I made the older gentleman looking at model cars smile.
Dearest selected a classic convertible - red, of course, with fins and steering that moved the front wheels, for about half the original price, and we'd be paying half of that ! - and we squeezed and ducked around other shoppers to rest in the very long line to cash out. I'm wondering as we wait if they sold anything at all yesterday, given the large number of folks clutching numerous overflowing boxes in front of us. One of the roving salesfolk asked if anyone had correct change for their goodies, and we did ! So she marked the card on the Plaza ‘Sold', telling me they'd used painter's tape to attach it, so it would pull off without damaging the box. I thanked her for that heartily. It's so awesome to have the box, with it's mid-70s graphics, and it's so thoughtful of them to have a concern about damaging it. So many people, even in the antiques/collectable market, still consider Barbie stuff just a bit better than trash, that it's nice to meet the ones who took the time to catalog and preserve this awesome playset for me. The guy behind me was digging for his wallet next, but we were already out the door. Yaay !
One of the sellers I talked with yesterday greeted me, saying he was glad I got what I came for. I thanked him, saying I wish I could have bought more, but I was so glad to get what we got ! He peeked at the box, then snapped his fingers. He'd lost the bet, he said - he though I'd come back for the Townhouse ! I said I had to choose, so I got this one, but if money and space were no object, he'd have been right. By then, a whole new wave of folks had swapped parking spaces with the early birds leaving, so he was soon busy again.
On the way home, we kept passing signs for a garage sale at one of the local high schools - the one we'd pass on our path. So we pulled in, following the signs...that stopped right at the entrance. Was it over where the cars were over there ? Nope, baseball game. In front of a Performing Arts center ? Nope. Concert for the disabled. Found the gym parking lot busy, so I decided to stop there... only to find out that the sale had ended at 11am. Note that I didn't even leave the house until nearly noon, and it was after 1pm when I saw the school sale signs. Grrr. I hate it when they don't take their signs down ! So, too, would the people in the gym for a basketball game, since there were several cars arriving as we walked back to Molly, and from their familiar ‘where is it already ?' expressions, I doubt they were there for round-ball.
Once home, I went through the Plaza box. It's all there, even the directions ! Well, all but the sign and veil. It's too bad I had stuff to do today, or I'd already have it assembled. Rest assured, I will have it together for tomorrow - I can't wait !
