Not so Pleasant news from the Pleasant Company...

The down side to being on bedroom-arrest is that I have NOTHING to do. Thus I spend hours looking at random websites and other people's blogs. Legally Blonde Ambition (yes, I mostly skim the blogs of other law school ladies when I've caught up on all my real-life friends) had the most disappointing news I'd heard in months:

Pleasant Company, the creators of the American Girl dolls, which was bought out by Mattel some time ago, has decided to start RETIRING THE DOLLS! It is one thing to retire a Vera Bradley pattern, but a doll? No seven year old will be devastated by the loss of a particular duffel bag opportunity. But retiring Samantha Parkington is unacceptable!

I grew up on these dolls. My best friends loved these dolls like I did. We had parties for them and poured over the catalogs together. We read all of the books and I remember clearly when each post-big-3 (Samantha, Kirsten, Molly) doll was released.

I guess this is to make way for more dolls with no educational/historical value...but I suppose that's okay since they all have such stylish and modern outfits. (please note the sarcasm).

So, my Samantha-loving friends (Steffany!!), I am sorry. Soon this beautiful piece of our childhood will be relegated to the "American Girl Archives." I'm sure my beloved Molly and Kristina's Kirsten and Addy won't be far behind. In five years they will have phased out all of the original dolls, and we'll be left with antiques.

I feel old and sad, in addition to being sick.