Monday, September 24, 2012

The Tale of Lori Walker- Part 2

Several years ago I did a blog post about my favorite doll I had when I was growing up.  Her name was Lori Walker and she was a 36" walker doll.  Santa brought her for Christmas one year.
This is a photo of her the year that I got her!  This very blurry photo of my family was taken in 1969 when I was 8 years old.  We had decided at the last minute to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house on Christmas Day and spend the night.  Grandpa went out and cut a small pine and Grandma cut out Christmas cards to decorate it with!  Just so we would have a tree when we got there. 

Lorrie had the most beautiful blonde hair and I took very good care of her.  I would save my allowance and my Great Aunt would take me to rummage sales and I would buy her clothes and shoes.  She wore a toddler size 2 or 3.  One day I decided that her hair needed to be washed.  I took her to the bathtub and washed her hair, rolled it up in curlers and set her under the hair dryer.   The kind like this:
Little did I know about nylon hair!  When I took her out of the hair dryer and unrolled her hair.  She was a mess!  Her hair had burned to a matty mess!  Her long blonde hair had gone from midway down her back to up to her ears.  I was so upset and cried and cried, but I kept working with it and thought I had gotten it looking pretty good.



So I set her on the kitchen table that night with a note for my Dad asking him how he liked her new hair style.  My Dad worked 3-11 and got home around midnight, so we would leave notes for each other since we didn't see each other during the week.

The next morning when I got up for school,  Lori was still on the table but with a brown bag over her head!  I was so upset.  I cried and cried.  But there was nothing that could be done. 
She was still my favorite doll, but I was sad every time I looked at her hair.
After I grew up, Lori Walker was delegated to the attic where she has been for over 30 years. 

Until a couple of weeks ago.  I pulled Lori Walker out of the attic when I got my Halloween/Fall decorations out.  She was naked so I found this little dress that I made for my neice, but it was too small.  It fit Lori perfectly.  Then I started thinking about her hair. 
That afternoon I happened to go to the drug store and passed the Halloween wigs and spotted a long blonde one... I wonder if that will fit Lori Walker?  I checked the price.  $5.99.  I'll take it. 
Oh my!  She's good as new! 
Really long hair!  My son thinks it's creepy!  But I love it. 
I love her new hair!
Now I need to get her some shoes and she is good to go!

Do you still have your favorite doll? 

Blessings

Linda

13 comments:

Shirley Hatfield said...

I loved that story. I took my Patty Playpal to grandmas on Christmas and ruined her face with lipstick...I can really feel your disappointment. What a fun thing to find that wig...you need to get a toddler's Rapunzel dress to go with it...wouldn't that be fun? =D

Musings from Kim K. said...

What a brilliant idea to restore her beautiful blond locks. How sweet that you still have this precious doll. I have one of childhood baby dolls and my barbie doll collections are mixed in with the girls.

Ann said...

Oh she is not creepy at all!!!!These kind of memories and treasures make life so sweet. I think her wig is darling. You will probably have to get her a red Christmas Outfit! I have my bride doll from 1957 and she is still in good shape. Thanks for stopping by today.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Oh, I really enjoyed reading your story. I can imagine how devastated you were after taking such good care of your sweet doll. And to think...after all these years, she is happy again and good as new. I love dolls and have a big collection...a room full. But I don't have my childhood dolls. I do have some photos and sometimes I try to look on Etsy to see if any look like the ones I had. One of these days, I'll buy a couple of them. I love dressing dolls and posing them. It's FUN!

Ric Rac and Polka Dots said...

Linda,
If you want to quilt but don't have the patience, just hang in there. I am a pattern designer and getting going again, and my goal is to only make quick and easy quilt patterns. I just don't have the time anymore to do all I want and need to do, so I have to streamline things a bit. I am going to come up with really cute patterns that take way less time. Maybe I will have a pattern you will want to try someday that isn't tooooooo time consuming! Thanks for visiting and commenting, I love hearing from you!
Hugs and blessings,
Julie

Celestial Charms said...

Hi Linda,
What a wonderful solution to a long time problem. Her wig is a perfect fit.
I'm glad you will now have the opportunity to get many more years of pleasure with her.
Maureen

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

I thinks your doll feels so much better with her new "do" and dress!!!
Darling Halloween hat you made for your swap partner!
Prices are going up at sales! Pretty green bowl!
Deb

Unknown said...

She's beautiful! Perfect hairdo again! I love dolls too. My favorites were Chatty Cathy and Tiny Tears. I loved your doll story.
Dorothy

Unknown said...

She looks great!! Nothing like a long stay at spa to rejuvenate her!! Love the wig!! I have a couple of my dolls, not my favorite though. Thanks for sharing such a fun story!!!
Hugs chris

Unknown said...

Linda, I love this story but the hair is creepy! I agree with your son. I think it needs a cute trim. I have to tell you I trimmed my sweet daughter's hair so terribly that she drove in our car to the beauty parlor with a bag over her head! I am just glad that your doll reminds you of such sweet days! Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

Ha-ha! A paper bag? Men! :)

How fun that you found a wig for her and it's so pretty!

I don't have any of my childhood toys- just the memories. ♥

Jennifer said...

Linda,
I discovered your blog last night and I love it! I seen your post about your walker doll. She is awesome and if you're up for the challenge one day, you can always re-root her. Restoredoll.com sells all kinds of beautiful hair. Also, I seen your hollow snowmen holding the shovels. I believe they were used for snow cone flavored ice and then you ate it with the shovel. Again, I love your blog and all the wonderful vintage finds you have photographed and shared. I only wish in my neck of the woods, I could find such great sales and items. Blessings to you.

Anonymous said...

I have a little lorrie walker doll new in box and I can't find another one like it anywhere on the internet. It's very frustrating cause I would like to know how old it is. She's wearing red boots and comes with a comb, brush and 4 curlers. She also has red hair wearing a flannel shirt and denim vest and shorts.
I've been looking since I git it over a year ago. Maybe some day I'll find out something about her