Ribbon Cutting at American Doll and Toy Museum
February 12, 2020
Not only was it Lincoln’s Birthday and my grandparent’s 93d
wedding Anniversary Yesterday, but it was our ribbon cutting and hearing date
for approval of the zoning for our doll museum.
My grandparents, Steve and Marie Fanakos were married in Paris. He sailed to meet her in Paris, and she traveled there with the best
man, who was the Mayor of her hometown, Kalamata, where the olives are
from. Later, the Communist guerrillas
would hang the poor best man from a lamppost during the Civil War, but Feb. 12,
1927 represented happier times. My
grandpa was considered an expatriate, and he could not return to his birthplace
to marry Marie. It would be years before
he and his family could return to settle real-estate matters and to visit. Unfortunately, it was 1938, and the two month
vacation became an 8 year occupation until they could all be liberated and
returned home safely.
Feb.12th was also the date my first fiancé and I
broke up rather fantastically. His
mother wouldn’t give him a permission note to get married. As he said, if I’d minded his mother, none
of that would’ve happened, and she would have allowed us to get married. Hmph!
So, it was time for a good Valentine’s/Lincoln Birthday
holiday of sorts.
Yet, we were not without our poltergeists. Fifteen minutes before the mayor and other
visitors arrived, I locked myself out of the museum. It was around twenty degrees, and even my
Talbot’s grey wool dress, boots, and snake print Ruby Rd. cardigan couldn’t keep all the
cold out.
I ran next door to Tim’s Corner, and we tried phone calls,
keys, prayers, etc. Jason, our wonderful
organizer for the event, gallantly offered me his jacket and called lock
smiths, fire chiefs, and police chiefs.
Some of my family arrived, including my 90 year old aunt.
Just in the nick of time, as people were lining up outside
the door, my friend drove home to get the extra key from my husband, who wasn’t
answering the phone for some reason. I’d
also called the landlord, my friend Michelle from Vintage Rose, who also came
running with a key.
Alls well that ends well, as the Bard might say, and we
proceeded. I’m also posting separately
my comments. Aunt Connie helped to cut
the ribbon, and everyone signed it. We
are going to display it very proudly.
Mike Thoms, our Mayor, was gracious and enthusiastic, and
honored us by mentioning that we did indeed have some items on display from the
collection of his late mother.
The local press was wonderful; our thanks to Bryan Bobb,
camera man, and to Jonathan Turner, and the other reporters from our local
stations who gave us wonderful coverage in print, on the Web, and on TV.
The day was a celebration of our entire community, and of
all the people who helped make this museum possible.
Later, we were approved by our local zoning and planning
commission to use our future building as a museum. Angela Campbell, director of our library was
awesome. She attended the ribbon cutting
and the hearing later to speak for us.
It just goes to prove that dolls and toys bring people
together in love, friendship, and community.
Our museum promotes diversity and culture, and honors the history of the
dolls, their makers, the artists who designed them, those who collect them, and
the children who love dolls and toys.
Dolls are humanities historians, and they also give us
pleasure and happiness.
Happy Collecting!
Link to our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Story;
https://qconline.com/photos-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-for-the-american-doll-toy-museum/collection_7de66041-6915-5667-af3d-03bb696ff182.html#6
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