Why I like Hello Kitty...

One of my first encounters with Hello Kitty was about 9 years ago, while I was working as a junior audit assistant. Like any other day, I would ride in my senior's car to the client's place. On that day, she was talking about the Hello Kitty craze that came about with McDonald's promotion - for every RM20 spent (I can't remember the exact amount), you are entitled to purchase a Hello Kitty doll for RM5. That promotion lasted for about 6 or more Hello Kitty models, each with a different outfit and theme. My senior wanted to purchase a couple of them in order to resell at a higher price; what an idea. Sigh...


She actually stopped at a McDonald's outlet in a new housing / commercial area to beat the queue. At the outlet, she realised that she ran out of cash. I remember lending her RM50 and queueing with her at the counter. You should look at the queue! I couldn't tell which was the shortest. There were about 12-15 people already waiting in our queue. In front of us was a Japanese guy waiting in the queue to get the little soft toy for his girlfriend. When it reached his turn, the cashier asked, "What would you like to order?" He replied, "Hello Kitty". Huh? You want to order Hello Kitty? Not a burger, or fries, or a coke?

Last year, I just felt like buying my niece a little soft toy. The previous one I bought her was Little Melody which had large ears. So, I went looking for a Hello Kitty. In the end, I found it. The one that caught my eye was such a sweet little thing, all in pink. It just reminds me of my niece. I hang it at the dresser in my room; it really brightens up my messy room which is normally full of books and papers. Don't know why but it makes me happy just looking at it, stroking it, touching its softness.

I didn't grow up with much soft toys. Most of them were gifts from other people, not from my parents. I never bought myself a soft toy before this. I could never understand why little girls are attracted to cute soft toys just as guys are attracted to the gadgets of the day. Maybe there is no reason for it.

This Hello Kitty became mine because my niece already has too many soft toys. Why do I like Hello Kitty so much? Let's just say that it is because it gives me the chance to become a 'little girl' again.