Inspired by this little guy today. I mean, can you look at him and not smile? I can’t. I retrieved him from my mom’s cedar chest a few years ago. One of the few relics she saved from my youth. I keep him in my office because there’s just something about him that I love.

I was researching the 1960’s for a writing project when I came across this advertisement:

Troll Dolls
Price: $1.44 each
Description: These pot-bellied and bow-legged Trolls need you for a friend. Choose from Bride, Groom, Nurse, or Indian Chief.
From the Year 1963

According to this ad, we paid less than a buck-fifty for him. Maybe a lot less since he didn’t come with a fancy costume. Just naked. For grins, I looked him up on eBay. Found out he has the original, orange glass, spiral eyes, which apparently is a good thing. They sell for anywhere from $13.49-$199 and even higher for rare ones in mint condition. Mine is neither. He still has the visages of a rubber band that I used to make a pony tail in his hair. I wouldn’t part with him anyway.

I remember taking him to second grade where he sat atop my desk while I worked hard at getting my letters to touch the proper lines. We were only allowed to play with our trolls at recess, but Mrs. Ruth allowed us to set them on our desks because she was super nice.

Ah. The memories. Grateful for my little troll-muse and grateful that my mom had the inclination to save him.