Lyalya

Lyalya, is short for Lyamara.

It's a name I gave the walking doll, my Aunt Eugenia gave me.(above)
I had another Lyalya which I loved but my Mom burned it when my puppy got rabies.
All the dogs in the neighborhood were afflicted at that time and cats were also disappearing.
The rumor was, someone was eating them.
Since my dog and I played in the basement, all my toys disappeared.

I don't remember how old I was. 8? 10?
When I got my second Lyalya, I thought, I was too old for dolls but then she was nice and she was used for decoration.

She has her original hair and dress but the shoes broke so I put my
sons' baby shoes on her.
I also put on a prettier dress over her old one and my Mothers' old wig.
She decorates my living room so it is never empty and she is great beside the
Christmas tree. She's seen many over the years.

I bet many people remember these dolls way back when.
I recently saw one like it on the Waltons series.
It is because of Lyalya, I bought the new version of her at Walmart. They were on special.
I gave one to our school for Bingo night and I saw the little girl who got her and her eyes were sparkling with joy.
This made me very happy.
:)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPg_xQhvwg4&feature=related
Zoltan Orosz accordianist Dark Eyes.