“A singing heart, no sadness knows…gloom cannot start where gladness glows.”

Johnny Gruelle An American artist know as the creator of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy

When I was a little girl my great aunt Jenny made me a Raggedy Andy doll which at the time was life size. I loved to dress and undress him and I drug him with me nearly everywhere I went. It felt so good to hug him when I was scared or tired. His polka dot shirt and bright red striped legs were so playful. The yellow yarn on his head lay in a matted mess like my little golden curls. My toddler bedroom had  Raggedy Ann and Andy ceramic wall art and a mirror with them brightly colored as the frame.

 

I forgot about my Raggedy dolls as I outgrew rag dolls and progressed through Barbie, Strawberry Shortcake, Smurf and Cabbage Patch Dolls. Mom folded Andy away and at sometime she picked up a giant Ann to hang out with him. They lived in a box at mom and dad’s house waiting for the day a curly haired little girl came into my life. I have welcomed three little boys into this world and the need for dolls at my house is limited to action figures and legos. While visiting my parents in Montana mom wondered if I wanted to keep Andy. The three-year-old in me did but the 30-something woman knew he needed to be loved by some other little girl. I couldn’t part with him entirely though. The poor little girl who loves them next will have to talk someone into making clothes for the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls because I found two dolls close to me to wear them.

 

 

 

 

“Happiness is very easy to catch when we love one another and are sweet all through.” Johnny Gruelle