Nimitz High School, but that lasted only six weeks. In the summer of 1981, we packed up and moved to Dallas. I thought a lot about Iran in those days - because of the hostage crisis. During these years, I played Barbies on the porch of our old farm house while simultaneously reading Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and waiting for the mailman to deliver letters from my brother who was in the U.S. We stayed there until I finished 8th grade. In April 1979, with just six weeks left in the school year, we moved to East Texas. While we there my father taught me how to fish with a tree branch. We lived in Arkansas for less than a year. I loved that doll so much. But, she had huge feet compared to my other dolls and this was a problem for me. Her name was Tuesday Taylor and she was gorgeous. If you put her in the sun she tanned. I used my birthday money to buy a doll I spotted at the Ben Franklin store. You might say I was a late bloomer, but it got worse from there. By then, I was in the 6th grade and still played with Francie every single day. In 1978, we left West Texas and moved to Arkansas. They still sold them in the stretched glass bottles back then. But, only after we stopped at the convenient store for a fried burrito and Dr. And, roller skating and taking long drives with my father. Those were good times in the Permian Basin. In 1976, Francie moved with me from Colorado Springs to West Texas. But, they ended - as all bad days do - and we moved on. She was with me during some pretty bad latchkey days.

In 1974, Francie moved with me from Hacienda Heights, California to Colorado Springs.

Barbie doll skipper