Last week I was on vacation with Dolly.  Ummm... I mean... my family.  Yes, my sister and brother and father were all there.  My 19 month-old niece, Sophia, was there.  But it was all about Dolly.

"Dolly" is the name of the Cabbage Patch doll that has not left Sophia's side for the past 6 weeks.  After Sophia found Dolly at Costco one day, Elmo quickly abdicated.  Back of the stroller, little red buddy! Dolly assumed the throne and will not be deposed.

Throughout our trip, we try to separate them, but the Fates are against us.  Before the dolphin show at Sea World we leave Dolly in the stroller parking area, hoping to last the 25-minute performance without her. We watch the dolphins jump and do tricks.  Sophia is excited for the main attraction, the purported Michael Jordan of aquatic mammals. The stadium is quiet but for the splash of sea water.  Our announcer prepares the audience for the entrance of the star of the show: Dolly the Dolphin! Well, ten minutes ain't bad.

Some Things About Dolly

1. Her name is really "Joanna" but everybody calls  her Dolly.

2. She is a natural blonde.  But don't ask her to prove it.

3. She loves being dragged along the sand during long walks on the beach. 

4. Dolly's absence causes severe distress.  For everybody.

5. She has an "outie" belly button. 

6. Although she owns several pairs of designer shoes, Dolly prefers to go barefoot.

7.  Dolly loves to take long, warm bubble baths in the washing machine.

8. According to LAX security, she has no skeleton and does not carry any concealed weapons. 

9. She has a crush on Diego, cousin of Dora the Explorer. 

10. Dolly is able to hijack the digestive system of people under two.  Most of Sophia's dirty diapers are Dolly's fault.

>>Click for More Photos of Dolly 

Sophia has not yet turned two.  It's OK that she has a Dolly obsession.  She's a baby.  Sure, it's a big doll for such a little person.  Of course it would be easier if Dolly did not need to be with us all the time. But Sophia loves her and we love Sophia.

Who's Your Dolly?

There are plenty of things we adults like to keep nearby all the time.  Who is  your Dolly?  And why do you need her? 

Is Dolly your job?  Is she your Blackberry?   Is she your handbag?  Yoga mat?  Your iPod?  Appointment book? Sunglasses? Your phone? Your wife?

How do you feel when Dolly is missing?  When you forget her?  When somebody else forgets her?  Hurts her?  Do you sometimes pay more attention to your Dolly than you do to your friends or your family? Do you feel lost when Dolly is not around? Do you blame Dolly when things don't go well for you? Is it Dolly's fault when you make that call you should not have made?

Guess my Dolly is my cell phone.  I become anxious when I do not have it and angry when my signal is too low. Have been trying to leave it at home from time to time.  During a long run or a trip to the grocery store, for instance.  When I am not on call. It's harder than I thought.

It frustrates us that Sophia will not leave Dolly and move on.  We want for her to be Dolly-free; unfettered.  We want her hands available so that we can hold them.  But why is her Dolly any less important than our own?