Several years later my troubled mother decided to end her life, “how sad and futile.” Her bouts with depression could now be helped with medication but at that time little was known.

As I turned 14 my Father remarried a women with two children of her own, and after sending me off to camp she re-did my room for her children, and threw away all my childhood toys, and comics, (which I collected avidly). My Vicky Victoria went in the bin with all the other stuff she thought was of no consequence to me.

Years went by, I never saw Vicky again, and then one day while pursuing eBay I saw a doll with very similar features, and chills went up my spine, and tears came out unstoppable. I bid on the doll even though it was not my Vicky, but a doll with similar features. Being new to eBay, I lost that doll in the last sniper bid, and it almost felt like I lost Vicky again. I surmised if this doll so like Vicky could be on eBay then perhaps there were more.

So I read the doll description carefully, and saw she was a Furga doll. I then went into eBay, and pulled up every auction for Furga dolls. AMAZING, about 30 dolls similar to Vicky were there, could she have been a Furga doll?

I saw one bidder bidding on quite a few Furga dolls with the eBay name of “Furga Diva,” so I bravely wrote this lady my story, and asked if could she help me. Well by the next day she, (the lady who was indeed a Furga expert) gave me all the info about my doll, who's real name it turns out is actually, Vittoria, (an Italian name)! It was My Vicky all right. Believe it or not, I framed that catalog photo and hung it next to my bed!

Well the search was on for Vicky now that I knew who she was, and I searched all the auctions lines I could, Yahoo, eBay, etc., and finally about one month into my search I found Vittoria (Vicky) mint in her box (which had a little shelf damage).

Well I wanted to bid a $1000 but the Furga Diva had told me I should be able to get her for under $50. I still did not take a big chance, and bid $300. I of course won my Vicky, and was the “Happiest Kid” all over again, it was like getting my mom back for a moment.

I urged the seller to insure her to the hilt, and I was very specific in my request for careful packaging. Well one month goes by, and no Vicky. I searched daily, and almost attacked the poor mailman when be brought any packages up.

I was writing to the seller, and about to make my claim with the post office when the post man brought me the worst sight (in a package) I have ever seen. The box was wet, and melted, it looked like a card board s’more with the white tissue squeezing out like marshmallow out of its soaked melted sides. The post office wrapped this soggy mess in cellophane to keep it all together.

Well I could barely unwrap it. It all was melted together, and the cardboard was just falling apart in my hands as I peeled it away. Vicky's box was a soggy oatmeal mush of cardboard, and the doll herself, “OH MY!” She was soaked, and when her eyes opened, all her lashes stuck to her cheeks, and pulled out of the lids. The lovely turquoise eyes were half of water, and the blue in them was faded white in some parts.

Her body was stained from ink on the box, and her feet were MUDDY! They had obviously left her some where else for several days before being called back to get her. I was broken hearted, and worked diligently on her to bring her back to some semblance of the doll I remembered, but there was only so much I could do.

I went to the post office, and made a claim, but did you know if you make a claim they keep the merchandise? Of course I could not give poor tattered Vicky up again, so I took her home. Finally that night I looked carefully at my Vicky, and said, “Hey girl, you don't look much like you used to,” and she said, “Hey neither do you.”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized, Vicky and I had been through some times, and it showed. Her eyes were faded, and I now wore glasses. She was a bit ragged, and I had a wrinkle or two. We both looked like we had been through a bit, and we were still standing, and most importantly we were still standing together again.

So I made my peace.

She now sits on a shelf next to my bed, except when she wants to jump in for a hug, and yeah, she doesn't look new, but then neither do I, so we are perfect for each other.