You Don't Always Get What you Want. But Sometimes You Get What you Need.

Allow me to explain. When I was about five or six, so we're talking 1978 or 1979, I asked Santa Claus for a Ken doll for Christmas. Barbie needed some arm candy. Fast forward to Christmas morning, and there under the tree was a Ken shaped box. Imagine my thrill as I tore through the paper to find the Purple fringed doll above.

Confused, I ask, "What is this?" Why did Santa bring me this doll?" Where's Ken?"
My mom told me: "That's Donny Osmond. He's better than Ken."

My Barbie dated Donny Osmond for years.

I have often re-told this story to my mom's chargin. She has heard it many times over the years. Most recently while out to dinner with my oldest friend Connie.

It's now Christmas 2010 and I am worried, and sad. Wondering how I'll feel on my first Christmas without my dad. As is tradition, we open one gift on Christmas Eve.

I opened mine to find a brand new Ken. Complete with "real hair." (pictures to follow shortly).

My mom had intended the present as a joke, but what she actually gave us was a gift.

A reason to laugh and to have fun at this first somber Christmas.

We spent the next few days posing Ken particapting in things we were doing as a family.

And as a way to document my adventures with Ken, I'll start using this space to share my new adventures with Ken.