No. Really.
Pissed.
Felicity Merriman did not survive the Revolution. The American Girl Company has 'archived' her.
First, it was Samantha, the 1904 rich girl living up life in New York City before World War 1 and the Spanish influenza.
Last year, it was Kirsten Lar(s)son. The girl I have to thank for impressing my then new boyfriend with my knowledge of Swedish customs, like St. Lucia. Plus, we had matching outfits.
Now, they've gone too far. TOO FAR. Felicity is next. Gone. For whatever stupid reason, they are getting rid of the original American girl dolls (and replacing them with stupid ones like Julie from the 1970s. Really? Are we that old already that the 1970s doll from San Fransisco is necessary? And why 1970? Wouldn't 1965 been a bit more interesting? Have a Sally Draper doll. She goes on adventures, kinda, plus her dad is smokin'...though a bit of an alcoholic. But I digress (been watching way too much Mad Men.)
But seriously, Felicity was one, if not the, (ok, maybe I'm a bit biased, but I did read all of the original books of all the girls) coolest American girl. She was spunky and a patriot, and not the kind that wear stupid t-shirts that have unintentionally funny references to tea-bagging and tea-baggers. She was interesting and inspiring, giving young girls someone to relate to while studying a massively important event in my home country's history. Without her, it is battles and politics and generals. It's hard to focus on that kind of history, let alone be interested. Felicity was a brilliant way to teach girls about history. That's why they started these dolls, is it not? If it is, then why are they getting rid of the really important dolls? I know they are being replaced, but did they have to get rid of really the only 18th century doll? What are they going to replace her with? Mary Sells, the pilgrim American girl? Sarah Proctor, Salem Witch Trials American Girl? (That would be cool....).
Just the summer alone I was in Williamsburg, I witnessed, at least a couple times a day (always more than one, always), where a little girl who came into the Millinery Shop holding her Felicity doll (now with that ugly purple dress, but that's a different rant for a different day) sometimes, her mother would have made her and her Felicity matching outfits to wear. Occasionally (especially if a younger sister was involved), there would be Elizabeth, Felicity's Loyalist friend, tagging along. I know that those little girls wanted to come to Williamsburg, because they loved Felicity so very much, and they wanted to see where she lived. They were able to go to a real place and learn about real people during a very special and interesting time in history. That is so much better for that wanting to watch the next Barbie Fairy Princess video with crappy computer animation. They are learning, interested, and engaged in what has happened in history, this no doubt will help them along in the future when they're older. You really did learn something from Felicity (and Kirsten and Samantha).
Now that Felicity is gone...who will inspire those little girls to want to see where she lived and learn and become more interested in history?
I'm really bummed....and ticked.
R.I.P. Felicity Merriman, you will be missed, by girls from the the littlest, to 20+ year old women who remember screaming their brains out when they saw you in the white Pleasant Company box for their birthday...and her parents still have it on video....
