Pretty in pink
IJ readers share short tales about Barbie, the movie, doll and icon
Halloween is almost here and whether you deck out your body and your home to celebrate or not, we all have memories of childhood Halloweens. As a girl growing up in New York City, I couldn't wait to trick-or-treat as a ballerina or a princess — only to have my mom force me to cover up my costume with a coat, gloves, scarf and hat because it was cold.
So it seems like a good time to talk about a particular childhood Halloween you remember — in six words, of course.
Please make it a story, a personal story, with a beginning, middle and end — not six adjectives, not a cliche and not advice. Make us laugh or cry or at the very least feel something. For an example, here is the famous story attributed to, but not proven to be written by, Ernest Hemingway: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” That's quite the story! Need more examples? “It can't be. I'm a virgin,” writes Kate Atkinson. “Set sail, great storm, all lost,” says John Banville.
If you want your story to run in the IJ, please:
• Write “Six-word story” in the subject line
• Send one story. Just one • Include your full name and Marin town in the body of the email, no attachments
• Write your short story in the body of the email, no attachments
• Use proper punctuation and spelling
• Use sentence style in one line
• It should not rhyme
• Do not submit six adjectives — that's not a story
Please send to lifestyles@
Oh, Barbie. You're plastic. Mixed blessing.
—Lou Judson, Novato marinij.com by Oct. 20 and look for it in the Oct. 31 lifestyles section and online.
Last month we asked IJ readers to share their thoughts about Barbie, the doll, the movie, the icon. Here's what they had to say.
Hairdo like Mom's, an auburn bubble. — Karen Zizzo Kempf, Novato
Ken atop Barbie, sex education, 1963. — Lisa Reed, Mill Valley
Ken and Allan finally tell Barbie. — David Henry, San Rafael
Barbie in '60s? We chose Beatles. — Helen Hayes, Ross
Barbie ruined that color pink forever. — Sandy White, Woodacre
Ah! If only to be Ken. — David Curtis, Novato
Baby dolls teach love, caring. Barbie? —Carolyn Eitel, Terra Linda
Barbie is part of our culture. — Michael C. Vogel, Mill Valley
Enough with this sexist doll already. — Daphne Moore, Greenbrae
Owned original Barbies. Mom gave them away. — Suzonne Hale, Bel Marin Keys
Blind Mexican masseuse called me Barbie. — Kay Noguchi,
Terra Linda
Barbie and Ken, a “plastic” relationship. — Bruce Donals, Fairfax
Too many daughters, Mom won't buy. — Janet Lee Benjamin, Tiburon
Hated the doll, loved the movie. — Roberta Seifert, Woodacre
Barbie's new world, it's fantastic. — Sharon Sanner Muir, Larkspur
I loved sewing my Barbie's outfits.
— Barbara Merino, Mill Valley
Body dysmorphia, shaming girls for decades.
— Sandra Arden, San Anselmo
Daughter's Barbie wore grandmother's handsewn clothes.
— Lucy MacSwain, San Rafael
Barbie's still news? God help us. — Frank Ridley, San Rafael
Badly behaved men receive no consequences. — Michele Samuels, Mill Valley
Kenough; his yearning touched mine keenly. — Bill Blackburn, Novato
Sis had Barbie, I went fishing. — Hank Simmonds, Kentfield
Barbie was created, to empower women. — Stacy Burroughs, San Anselmo
Just be your very best Ken. — John Oppenheimer, Sausalito
Oh, Barbie. You're plastic. Mixed blessing. — Lou Judson, Novato
SoCal Barbie in handkerchief sari: India. — Carol Chappell, Novato
A letter to Santa suggested Barbie. — Sue Beittel, San Rafael
Barbies: loved by children and collectors. — Mary Ann Gallardo, San Rafael
Barbie movie or doll, not interested. — Pamela Lunstead, Novato
I loved sewing my Barbie's outfits. — Barbara Merino,
Mill Valley
Barbie's fiction, character Gloria's monologue's real. — Trish Jones, Greenbrae
Body dysmorphia, shaming girls for decades. —Sandra Arden, San Anselmo
Dogs were my game, not dolls. — Sharon Eide, Novato
“Bad movie,” said only fragile men. — Beatrix Berry, Fairfax
Avoided baby dolls. Played Barbies' adultness. — April Orcutt, San Anselmo
“Barbie”? Teachable? “Oppenheimer” far more essential. — Ian Begg, Corte Madera
Mom wouldn't let me have one. — Karla Kvam, San Rafael
First Barbie, 1961 — old memories cherished.
— Ann Eller, Woodacre
Imagination, maturation and finally, Barbie donation. — Mary Frances Reed, Marinwood
Had Barbie; preferred American Girl Samantha. — Nancy Rademacher, Corte Madera
Ran over sister's Barbie with train. — David Leipsic San Rafael
Barbie? I like the dark
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