A Boobs Clea Summer

My grandgirls have been Barbie obsessed for the last two years. They have an embarrassing number of the anatomically exaggerated dolls and drawersfull of their accessories in addition to the amazing Dream House that Grampa and I gave them last Christmas. There are also Barbie cars, campers, and airplanes to transport all the Barbies and their Liv doll friends anywhere around the bonus room they may wish to go. I'm glad the girls are smart, artistic, brave people who have many other interests in their lives in spite of the fact that they always seem to fall back on dramatic play with the army of Barbies.

The extended Barbie family greeted two new members this summer. They are, I think, Liv dolls and their names are, uh, Boobs Clea and Boobs Clea. They are fraternal twins. One is Caucasian and the other is African American. They both have long flowing hair and blue eyes. Last I saw of them they were both naked from the waist up and it's easy to see why they received the names they have.

The girls are perfectly serious about these dolls. They are not being disrespectful with their choice of names. They explain to me that the girls were actually named Clea by their mother but as they grew up (they're 19 now) , their friends were impressed with their looks and started calling them Boobs out of admiration and respect. Oh, and by the way, their mother named them both Clea when they were born because she really liked that name.

Amy (Mary and Alicia's mother) sometimes has to explain the origin and birth of the two Cleas when the girls are engaged in play with them. They make several references to them that anyone in the play area can hear so guests get that puzzled look on their faces when they hear someone calling for Boobs Clea. Amy then feels obligated to explain.

I didn't play with Barbies when I was young. I think they weren't around in the 50's when I was a kid. And I never really understood their charm, if you can call it that. They always seemed like overdressed, over mature girls who went to the Prom too many times. But I tell you what: I sure am intrigued by the advent of Boobs Clea.