Introduction

Note: Keep in mind that all these doll stories are just pretend stories and that they have no relationship with the real world!

I'm so excited that I have my own blog now. Let me introduce myself a little bit more: My name is Dutch Gretchen. I hear you thinking; why Dutch Gretchen and not only Gretchen? Well let me explain that first. I am an Annette Himstedt doll created in Germany who lived the first years of my life in Texas USA. I really liked it there, because there were so many other dolls to talk to and to play with. My special friend was Linchen. We had so much fun together. But then one day in August 2010, my "former" Mommy picked me up and said to me that I had to leave. I was crying and asked why. I didn't want to leave, I wanted to stay in Texas. But she said that I had to be brave, because she would send me to Holland! Holland? That sounded so far away... and indeed it was. Holland lays on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Before I left, my former Mommy took some photos from me on my own and together with Linchen.

Here are some of them which will always remind me on my time living in the USA.

Shortly after this I had to say goodbye to all my friends in Texas, Mommy locked me up in a big brown box and brought me to the post office. Boy I was so scared. It was so dark inside that box and I had no idea what would happen. That was early August 2010.

The travel seemed to take ages. My former Mommy mailed my new Mommy that I was on my way to her so they both expected that I would arrive any minute at the doorsteps of my new home. But time went by but nothing happened. They got worried, where could I be? And all this time I was locked up, couldn't see a thing, only heard strange and terrified noises coming from outside my box. Then finally after three weeks (!) I showed up. I felt so happy when I finally got released out of the box, but I believe my new Mommy was even more happier when she saw me for the first time. I saw tears in her eyes from joy. I used my new Mommy's PC to let my former Mommy know that I arrived safely. From that moment on my former Mommy would be named as Aunt B. (of course I can mention her full name here, but don't know yet if she gives me permission to do that). Well anyway: on August 31th, 2010 I entered the Dutch dolly household and since then my life has changed forever. But back to my name: Dutch Gretchen. It's not only that I live in Holland and that I'm a Dutch doll now, no it's more that I won't be mixed up with another Gretchen. After Aunt B. read all my adventures and stories, she realised that she missed me a lot. No, I wasn't send back, that would have been too cruel, but she looked and asked around and after awhile she found another Gretchen! Not to replace me, but to have a friend for Linchen who felt very lonely when I left. From that day on we had Texas Gretchen and Dutch Gretchen. Isn't that wonderful?????

Now that I have introduced myself a little bit more, I will start to tell you about my first adventure I had here in Holland in September 2010.