Samantha
When I was a little girl, I had several favorite toys. My Strawberry Shortcake dolls topped the list for many years, as did my My Friend Jenny doll. I loved making up stories and playing with my dolls. They helped develop my imagination and give me fantasies of other times.
I really enjoyed pretending I was in different countries or different eras. I had a several sets of historial books that helped inspire this. So when I found the American Girl catalogs, I was very excited to find dolls and stories that matched my interests so well. I read every story as many times as I could get them out of the library, and made lists of what I would buy if I had the money.
My favorite was Samantha. I loved the victorian era and everything about it. She had beautiful clothes, and perfect brown hair, just like me.
Fast forward to this Christmas. I still never had gotten Samantha as a gift, or ever decided to spend the money myself on her, although I filled out the order form several times after my college years with the intention of getting her... and something always stood in my way.
My mom really surprised me this Christmas. My big present this year was a box that was perfect size for a doll. Sure enough, my beautiful Samantha was inside. She’s sitting on my lap as I write this, her eyes opening and closing as I move. She’s so pretty.
I know that I won’t get to play with her like I would have as a child, but she will brighten up the room sitting on her stand for many years to come, and hopefully I’ll have a little brown-curled girl who will hold her and love her too 
Comments
I remember getting a Holly Hobby doll when I was in the hospital for pneumonia at the age of 5. I was never a doll or Barb*tch fan, but it was so nice of my Tata to think of me.
Posted by: meryl | January 9, 2002 07:32 PM
i have samantha. i love her so much. i wish i had gotten her at a younger age, so i could have had more time to play with her before i grew out of dolls, or i wish i would have gotten her when i was much older, and could have taken better care of her, so i could pass her on.
yay for samantha
i am still absolutely in love with all of her clothes and her furnishings. and i still want the little paint kit from her summer story.
Posted by: Cori | January 9, 2002 10:27 PM
I know exactly how you feel... sort of. All my life, I’ve wanted an Easy-Bake Oven, but I’ve never gotten one! Now that I’m older, I could easily plunk down the $20 at Target and finally have one, but it’s just not the same! I can only imagine how much fun it would be to open up a gift and finally see it! LOL
Enjoy your Samantha doll!
Posted by: Dyanna | January 9, 2002 11:04 PM
OMG!!! Samantha was always my favorite
I had her when I was little and all her books. I hope you enjoy her
I still love her!!
Posted by: Sara | January 10, 2002 08:04 AM
How exciting!!!!! Samantha is SO cool. She was my....third one, I think. After Kirsten and Molly. *giggle* Did you read the book yet? LOL
I know you’ve always talked about getting a Samantha, so I’m so happy for you!! : )
Posted by: Rina | January 10, 2002 10:07 PM