Barbies & Jem

Katy, 7 or 8 years old, about 1988

On Saturday mornings, I knew Jem would be on early, maybe around 7am. I set my alarm the night before so I could get up on time.

Jem was a show about a rock band with Jem as the lead singer. Jem and the Rockers had a rival band called the Misfits. They were totally at the height of punk rock fashion with brightly colored hair and artfully ripped clothing.

I also had a Jem action figure with pink hair and a purple punk outfit. She was bigger than a Barbie. When I played Barbies with Jem, Jem looked like an overgrown Amazonian princess.

Also, John liked to play Barbies with me. Except he would play with his G.I. Joes and be my Barbie’s “younger brother.”