When Polly Trent was six years old, May 10, 1912, she was given a doll that she named Addie, which was her mother’s name.
When Polly’s daughter, Susan Shank, was six years old, January 23, 1949, Polly gave the doll, Addie, to Susan who named her Polly for her mother.
When Susan’s daughter, Michelle Mix, was six years old, April 26, 1972, Susan gave the doll, Polly, to Michelle who named her Susan for her mother.
When Michelle’s daughter, Trinity, was six years old recently, Michelle gave the doll, Susan, to Trinity who named her Michelle for her mother.
That is the basic outline of the story. There is always more of course.
Polly had the doll restrung, new wig and freshened clothes.
Susan was not as on time as Polly had been. Susan realized suddenly about April 1st that Michelle would be 6 in a very short time. She called her step-mother, explained where the doll was (in a trunk in the garage) and asked that Mama Bear (Blanche) send the doll to her. Polly (the doll) arrived wrapped and boxed gently. Michelle received Polly, named her Susan and a tradition continued.
Michelle took Susan to school for show and tell. As she was telling the doll’s story, at age 6, Michelle said, “And when I grow up, if I decide to be married and have children, I will give her to my daughter.” Susan had to smile, being very glad that already at age 6 MIchelle knew she had a choice in the matter.
MIchelle or her sister Meredith said that they should polish Susan’s shoes because the toes were scuffed. Human mother, Susan, said, No. The shoes had been hers when she was a baby and she had scuffed those toes crawling around her childhood home in Dallas. The scruffs remained.
Michelle had not gotten around to bringing Susan out of storage until late in the afternoon of Trinity’s birthday. The kids were asked to sit in the living room and Marc and Michelle moved the tv and cleaned off the trunk, opened it and brought out the doll. Michelle told Trinity the doll’s story. Trinity’s eyes opened very wide and she said, “I know what to name her.” Michelle was waiting to hear “Rainbow Rose”, the name every toy Trinity had received for a while was named. Trinity said, as if she had had a wonderful, new idea, “I will name her Michelle!” She did not hold the doll however.
Later the next day, Trinity came to Michelle and said, “I have been putting her up and down and shaking her hand as I have been getting to know her.” As this is being written, Trinity is now wrapping Michelle in a blanket and snuggling her down with her stuffed animals when Trinity goes to school. She carries Michelle around with her.
Mama Susan and Michelle have decided we probably need to again freshen the doll, bringing Michelle into the 21st century. At this writing she needs a new wig and something new in the way of clothes. She will after all be 99 on May 10, 2011. Her 100th birthday story will be written here once it occurs.
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