The past few days have been very difficult for me. My emotions have ranged from shock to grief over the loss of two people who died one day apart. The world shared one person with me. I shared the other with her circle of doll collecting friends and her own family and friends.
Whitney Elizabeth Houston, who died on February 11, 2012, was always a very beautiful woman and an accomplished, most talented singer and actress, with the singing being her passion. I remember one of her first videos, "You Give Good Love." (Her tiny frame and ill-fitting spandex pants make this video memorable as well as her melodic voice). After becoming familiar with the songstress, I recall recognizing Whitney in a bit part on, Gimme a Break.
The news of her untimely death was very shocking. I couldn't believe it, but unfortunately, it was true. I will always remember her powerful gift of song. In the words of my 7-year-old niece, who is also a gifted singer, "She has the most beautiful voice in the world!"
R.I.P. Whitney Elizabeth Houston.
Ruth Manning entered my life on January 20, 2003, after I received an email request from her to join my online black-doll discussion group, WeLoveBlackDolls. According to the new-member protocol, I introduced Ruth to fellow WLBD members with the following email:
Whitney Elizabeth Houston, who died on February 11, 2012, was always a very beautiful woman and an accomplished, most talented singer and actress, with the singing being her passion. I remember one of her first videos, "You Give Good Love." (Her tiny frame and ill-fitting spandex pants make this video memorable as well as her melodic voice). After becoming familiar with the songstress, I recall recognizing Whitney in a bit part on, Gimme a Break.
The news of her untimely death was very shocking. I couldn't believe it, but unfortunately, it was true. I will always remember her powerful gift of song. In the words of my 7-year-old niece, who is also a gifted singer, "She has the most beautiful voice in the world!"
R.I.P. Whitney Elizabeth Houston.
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| Paper Flowers*, a 2011 UFDC Convention souvenir gift from Ruth |
Ruth Manning entered my life on January 20, 2003, after I received an email request from her to join my online black-doll discussion group, WeLoveBlackDolls. According to the new-member protocol, I introduced Ruth to fellow WLBD members with the following email:
January 20, 2003, New Member Welcome - Ruth M.
Please join me in welcoming our newest member, Ruth, to our list.
We also have another member whose name is Ruth. For this reason, I
will refer to our new member as Ruth M. Below is Ruth M's self-description of her doll-collecting hobby.
Hi Debbie,
I've been collecting dolls about 30+ years but I've really gotten carried away in the past 3 years. That's how long I've been retired.
I have about 700 dolls of all kinds but mostly black. I have about
150 Barbie/friends of Barbie-about 95% are black. I only look for
black vintage dolls but I don't stick to that. The last black dolls
that I bought, in Dec, 2002, were 4 Barbies, Bebe-a Jan McLean
Lollipop Girl, & Madison-My Scene Barbie. I've bought about 150
dolls since last May-mostly black. The dolls are running me out of my own
house. Between the dolls & my 700 Ty products (beanie babies) I
am nearly bankrupt.
I go to doll shows, frequent antique shops, & really enjoyed the
Barbie convention held in Denver, last June. I only collect dolls.
I made my first & last doll last summer-a black porcelain doll about
22". That was too much hard work. I can really appreciate the cost
of dolls.
What can I say? I'm really an "Incurable Collector"!
Always Blessed,
Ruth
Doesn't Ruth sound like a delightful person? Please join me in welcoming her to our list. Thanks!
Debbie
And welcome her we did! She became part of our doll-collecting sisterhood. We loved collecting dolls right along with her and vicariously through her doll purchases because Ruth could buy some dolls! Her monthly doll purchases often totaled 30 dolls or more, and she had the pictures to prove it. In the spring of 2003 (shortly after joining the list), Ruth allowed me to share her doll collector's profile with the readers of Black Doll-E-Zine.
The WLBD members not only delighted in Ruth's enthusiasm for doll collecting, but we were also fascinated by her zest for living life to the fullest. She traveled throughout the country often solo to doll shows and conventions. She had a goal to visit all 50 US states. I believe, with the exception of never visiting Pennsylvania, she accomplished this goal.
As illustrated in her email introduction, her signatures usually exhibited her faith in God, which remained steadfast until the end. They varied from Always Blessed, Hallelujah Anyhow, Healed by His Stripes, to just signing her name (after she switched from individual emails to reading posts at the WLBD website in 2011).
Ruth lost her battle with an extended illness on February 12, 2012. I did not find out until February 16, 2012. The world lost a sweet angel and heaven gained one.
I will truly miss our several-year on- and offline friendship and hearing her sweet voice over the telephone to just talk dolls or about things in our personal lives.
Rest in peace, sweet Ruth. I will always love you.
*The paper flowers are actually called lithographed paper scraps that were possibly made in Germany. Collecting and swapping paper scraps was a popular childhood pastime. There are adults who continue to collect these today. Read more about the process here.
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The WLBD members not only delighted in Ruth's enthusiasm for doll collecting, but we were also fascinated by her zest for living life to the fullest. She traveled throughout the country often solo to doll shows and conventions. She had a goal to visit all 50 US states. I believe, with the exception of never visiting Pennsylvania, she accomplished this goal.
As illustrated in her email introduction, her signatures usually exhibited her faith in God, which remained steadfast until the end. They varied from Always Blessed, Hallelujah Anyhow, Healed by His Stripes, to just signing her name (after she switched from individual emails to reading posts at the WLBD website in 2011).
Ruth lost her battle with an extended illness on February 12, 2012. I did not find out until February 16, 2012. The world lost a sweet angel and heaven gained one.
I will truly miss our several-year on- and offline friendship and hearing her sweet voice over the telephone to just talk dolls or about things in our personal lives.
Rest in peace, sweet Ruth. I will always love you.
*The paper flowers are actually called lithographed paper scraps that were possibly made in Germany. Collecting and swapping paper scraps was a popular childhood pastime. There are adults who continue to collect these today. Read more about the process here.
dbg
Follow my Dolls for Sale blog
