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Scarce Toys: Cabbage Patch Kid theft, other stories of hard-to-find toys

Cabbage Patch Kids. Teddy Ruxpin. Tickle Me Elmo. This year's Hatchimals. There's always one toy that throws kids and parents into a frenzy.

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Peaches, my Koosas Cabbage Patch Kid doll
By
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

It was around 1983. I desperately wanted a blonde Cabbage Patch Kid. And, for some reason, my mom decided I had earned one.

We waited in line at a Kay Bee toy store in Ithaca, N.Y., for hours with my heart set on that blonde doll (since I have blonde hair). Rumor had it that a shipment was coming in.

We waited. And waited. And waited. But finally, the shipment arrived. At this point, the store was humming. And I was near the front. That blonde doll was within reach!

And there they came. The workers stacked them up and let us choose. I rushed forward and pulled a box with a blonde doll from the pile. I was thrilled, looking at her. She was perfect with her two blonde braids. And then, as I stood in a daze of excitement and exhaustion, a woman ripped the box from my nine-year-old hands and marched toward the cash register.

My mom and I were dazed and confused. (And we both still have some words for that woman, wherever she is). Not wanting to cause a scene, I suppose, we reached back into the pile instead of running after her. All my mom could find was Peaches, the furry animal-like Koosas Cabbage Patch Kid doll, who I grew to love.

There is a happy ending to that story: Twenty years later, I finally got that blonde Cabbage Patch Kid when my sister-in-law gave my girls all of her old dolls.

This infographic brought back memories of that day at the toy store. Thankfully, for whatever reason, my kids haven't wanted any hard-to-find toys like this year's Hatchimals. (Parents are even sending their kids apology letters from Santa because they can't produce a must have toy on Christmas morning).

I'm sure plenty of Go Ask Mom readers have stories about hard-to-find toys that they wanted for themselves or that they were searching for for their kids. Share in the comments!

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