Sara was
inconsolable. She and her beloved doll, Baby Katie, were nearly inseparable. Sara
didn’t understand why Katie needed a makeover.
Baby Katie was
a ‘wipe clean with a damp cloth’ little baby doll. While her heart was soft and
cuddly, the rest of Katie was molded plastic. She usually dressed in her
birthday suit as pre-K fingers struggled pulling small PJ’s over small legs and
arms. Nevertheless, Katie stayed warm wrapped in a wash cloth, its corners
twisted together to keep it from falling off.
“Grandma, play
with me!” When Sara made that request, it meant holding Katie and making her
come alive, being the ‘puppeteer’ and voice of Baby Katie.
Baby Katie
shared life with a menagerie of animals, inviting them to sumptuous tea parties
so she could indulge her sweet tooth. Katie was born, celebrated her birthday,
and got married several times a week. She slid down banisters, jumped on
couches, made forts, collected dust bunnies under the bed. Unbelievably, Baby
Katie even crashed the Christmas tree. Stickers served as Band-Aids or casts
for her numerous injuries. When stickers weren’t available, a strip of paper
licked and applied to the injury worked just as well. Katie took trips around
town and out of state. She had a certain fondness for tattoos. She painted her
nails, colored her hair, and experimented with eye and cheek makeup. When
things didn’t go her way, Baby Katie threw tantrums that could be heard all
over the house.
Baby Katie was
beautiful even when a damp cloth failed to remove the evidence of her many adventures.
Heedless of care instructions, she took a bath. Katie didn’t get clean. Sadly,
her stuffing migrated to the lower half of her trunk leaving her heart nearly
empty. None of that mattered to Sara. She loved Katie unconditionally. Sara was
heartbroken when Baby Katie had to get a makeover.
From the album
“Silly or Celebratory – Songs for Sara Lily” this video is scrolling playback
of the song.
Kathy
You can
get print (PDF) and/or digital (MusicXML™) sheet music for Baby Katie.
(MusicXML™ is
the standard open format for sharing digital sheet music. Check the help files
in your music notation app for directions on importing MusicXML™ files.)
For more of
unconditional love of a toy by a child see TheVelveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
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