Today, March 9th, is Barbie’s birthday. She was born March 9, 1959 in Willows, Wisconsin. Yes, I went to her movie with grandkids!
For this day, I have a book that every one of my granddaughters pored through, “The Collectable Barbie” by Janine Fennick, 1996. This illustrated book has photos of every Barbie, Ken, Skipper, and all their friends and family. There are also illustrations of special outfits, and collector dolls, throughout the Barbie career. It is the best Barbie book.
There was one outfit for Barbie, called ‘Gone Fishing’. She had a straw hat, denim jeans, and fishing pole with a fish. There was another outfit ‘the Barbie sisters go fishing.’ Other merchandising was a Barbie fishing pole, that my grandkids used to begin their fishing journey with (the journey started at my house). I live on a small lake. They fish from the back yard.
One fish they did not try to catch is the Paddlefish. It is a prehistoric freshwater fish that is in danger of extinction. To help combat that, there is National American Paddlefish Day, today March 9th. I have pulled out my third edition of “Guide to the John G. Shedd Aquarium” by Walter H. Chute, from 1940. I also have the 10th edition (the same book) from 1960.
The American Paddlefish can be seen at the Shedd Aquarium. It is a cool, long snouted fish, growing to around five to six feet long. The threats to paddlefish are overfishing, pollution, and the inability to move past dams to get to spawning grounds. This date is used to spread the word about their lives, and to work on helping their species re-populate.
So at my house, the kids and grandkids fish, but for bluegill, bass, crappie, and catfish. I am still waiting for them to catch ol’ Grandaddy, the biggest albino catfish in our lake.
I am one lucky grandpa. My grandgirls are equally comfortable with their dolls or their fishing poles. Keep reading. Or keep fishing. Both are good for the soul (or sole if that is what your fishing for.)
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