Nothing gives me greater pleasure than meeting true originals along Route One.

Mattel came out with the “Chatty Cathy Doll” in 1960. If you pulled on a string on her back, the doll said things like: I love you. Do you love me? Please brush my hair. What can we do now? Please change my dress. Give me a kiss. I’m so tired. Let’s have a party. Please take me with you. Let’s play school. and May I have a cookie. It was fun at first, but it got pretty repetitive. More than 5 words at a time was not possible.

Well, I got to meet a non-repetitive Cathy, who was pretty chatty and lots of fun to listen to as she spun tales inside her modest store in Cassatt, SC. Out in front is a life-sized doll mounted to a hand truck. The doll gets wheeled out every morning and is stored for safekeeping inside when the store closes.

Undaunted by the recent arrival of a Dollar Store directly across Route One, Cathy sells modest convenience items, her own recipe preserves, and her original custom made dolls. While we were not in the market for a doll, we did pick up some pickled green beans, chow-chow (a kind of relish), pickled watermelon rind, and cucumbers pickled with red hot candies. All were unique and delicious!

Cathy enthusiastically gave us a private tour of the “doll room” where her grandchildren love to visit, and regaled us with stories about her family and how she began making dolls as a hobby. She is a charming and delightful original storyteller. Hats off!!!