American Girl

Our local mall just got an American Girl store. I would have loved that store when I was a little girl. I remember seeing the catalogs when Waverly was a baby and thinking that one very special day, I would take her in and let her pick out her very own doll. I would treat her to a lunch at the cafe with her doll in a highchair next to the table.

I hate walking by the store and I do all I can to avoid it. However, the mall is flooded with little girls carrying their dolls. I can't escape the bright red bags. That store embodies the loss of a dream for me. I suppose it is silly to think an over priced toy can cause such sadness, but it is a reminder that things just haven't turned out as I had hoped.

Waverly & I were at the mall together this afternoon. We had a few errands to run and fortunately we didn't have to venture near the AG store. Yet when we left, we drove right by it. There is a nice patio area for the cafe and there were a few moms and little girls sitting outside enjoying lunch. The dolls were in the highchairs with little place settings. I cried. I looked in the mirror and saw Waverly happily chewing on her Chewease in her car seat, oblivious to all that she is missing.