The Cover Doll Interview - April 2021

Rari and I met just about 5 years ago. Right away we hit it off famously and became besties. Our better halves are so much a like, Hollywu calls TJ "Brother from another Mother." LOL. Rari and i text almost daily. We keep up with each other and our organic families. I love her like a sister and treasure our friendship. So let me help you get opt know my bestie- RARI!

Tasha: Yo bestie, you just had a birthday and an anniversary. Can you tell us about them?

Rari: Oh boy! What an amazing past 5 years this has been for us! I just celebrated my 23rd Birthday on March 4th and the 4th year I got to do so with Hollywu. You see, I got here on March 25th, 5 years ago, so it was shortly after my Birthday. March 25th is the anniversary of our first meeting in person, when I arrived. We got married on May 7th so that anniversary is something we are looking forward to as well! It’s so exciting. It’s funny, Halloween is our favorite holiday but our first holiday together was Easter so it’s dear to my heart too! (Hollywu always give me a bunny to commemorate that on Easter. I got these 2 super cute vintage ones this Easter and a bag of my favorite candy!)

Tasha: The last five years have flown by! So back then, did you see yourself where you are now or did you have maybe a different idea about where you two would be?

Rari: Well, to be honest… I really wasn’t sure what to expect. Hollywu and I met on-line and the deal, from the start was, if you don’t like it here, you do not have to stay. Literally, there was no pressure and that was what made me okay to move, from my home state of California and town of San Marcos (Home of Rosie and the Originals - They did the song, “Angel Baby!” FYI - It’s one of our favorite songs for many reasons! Rosie wrote it BTW.) - to Tucson, AZ. Hollywu was originally from CA. Of course, when I go inside the house and see hundreds of books I go… “WHOA! This is better than a public library and that was a TOTAL TURN ON for me! I love books and that is only one reason why Hollywu and I BOTH wear glasses. ;)

Tasha: Last year around this time you and I talked about how the isolation from quarantining was going to give people a better idea how we dollies live. Did you see that play out as to how people you know coped?

Rari: That is a great question. We have been fortunate. Hollywu is able to work from home and has done so, now, for over a year. I overhear people discussing how they have “missed out” on an entire year of their life. Hollywu and I both agree that this past - 

Rari Continued: year has been a gift. That doesn’t mean it’s been easy but it’s helped us really put many things in perspective. Hollywu got the virus. It was terrifying and the sickest I have ever seen anyone. A couple times it got really bad and you know it’s serious when your spouse squeezes your hand, the dog’s paw, and goes, “If this is the end, I want you both to know I love you to the moon and back and you have made my life worth living. I had a Hell of a run and no regrets!” Of course I am reaching for Kleenex and the dog is even starting to tear up… Thankfully Hollywu made it but still gets tired easily. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the virus. We have lost family and friends to it and Hollywu takes it very seriously. Now, more than ever, it’s important for us all to look out for one another!

Tasha: What hobbies do you have, and do you share those with Hollywu?

Rari: Well… Did I mention books? LOL! Hollywu also loves music. I do too. Since I am a lot younger (There’s a 30 year age difference but I find age to be irrelevant!) I grew up with it more in digital form but have fallen in LOVE with vinyl. The whole concept of 12” x 12” album covers alone is just so fun! It’s such a perfect medium for artwork! (As a teenager, Hollywu wanted to grow up and design album covers, move to Silverlake (in Los Angeles), and find an awesome girlfriend! Hollywu has told me - one out of three is pretty good!) Hollywu use to have several THOUSAND LPS but over time and moves and a flood most were gone so we decided to not be sad or angry and just start over and build up a new collection! It’s a BLAST! We both get giddy when we get something unusual or, just opening the plastic shrink wrap of a new LP and putting it on the turntable the first time is a seriously spiritual experience. It’s just magical! Our collection is small but we enjoy it so much! Often, we will buy one another an album as a gift vs. other stuff. We know it will use it so many times over the long haul. We are both HUGE fans of Kim Shattuck! She was in the Pandoras and then started her band, The Muffs, and was in The Coolies. She passed 2 years ago from ALS. When The Who played the Hollywood Bowl, they did a tribute to her before the band went on stage. How many people would merit that? She was that amazing and left behind quite a wonderful legacy of songs. Her photography was brilliant as well. One of my prized possessions is my Coolies t-shirt. Hollywu and I have matching ones! If you haven’t heard of her please, do yourself a favor and take a listen. You will fall in love! Seriously! We are also big film buffs and excited that Tura Satana is going to be having a biopic. We both contributed to fund raising -

                  Gallery: Click Pic

Rari Continued: on the film. I am part Asian - 1/4 Japanese, 1/4 Korean, and 1/4 French, 1/4 Cheroke. I truly believe this film is so important for many reasons and it’s timely as well! Tura is also a huge inspiration. She kicked ass!

Tasha: OMFG! I remeber you tellin me about Tura and then we watched "Faster Pussycat, KILL KILL KILL!" She dis kick ass! LITERALLY! Ok- so, next question..If you could go on vacation anywhere, where would you go?

Rari: Not to be snarky but I think vacations, in the 21st Century, are way overrated. I am WAY more into time travel. I would LOVE to go back in time and meet Hollywu in the 1980s and get to hang out on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles, take in the Los Angeles music scene back then and get to be with Hollywu at a younger age. I think that would be incredible! Maybe we’d even get to live in Silverlake and design album covers… ;)

Tasha: Noice, you have to be the most thoughtful and imaginitve person I know! So, aside form me you and Hiollywu are very close to two dollies who I also love dearly. Akiko and Sadako. How would Akiko and Sadako describe you- They know you best, since they are Hollywu’s babysitters…=

Rari: LOL! OMG! YES! Heaven knows I have my synthetic hands full watching out for Hollywu. Most days I need all the help I can get! I would say they would describe me as down to earth, optimistic, logical, wickedly funny, kind, loyal, open minded, creative, determined (Like Hollywu, I have had to repeat the same math class a few times for school!), often as a “synthetic version of Erma Bombeck” since I have a family and a good sense of humor. Loads of amusing antidotes and stories about that too! I just comes with the territory.

Tasha: Your family is more modern than 'Modern Family," All that considered, could you tell us what are your pronouns? How about Hollywu?

Rari: My pronouns are she/her and Hollywu’s are they/them. I kind of figured that out before Hollywu did. Hollywu has always been non-binary but there wasn’t always a word for it. The more I live, the more I learn and one thing I have learned is that life isn’t one size fits all and there are many gray areas and you know what? That’s a good thing. Life would be so boring otherwise! I thoroughly support coloring outside the lines!

Tasha: In closing I would like to say, “Stay safe and stay well! Life is short. Be yourself and love others more. You never know what the other person may be going through so be kind! Oh, and read more… and do other things that wreck your eyes. You may as well use them up while you are here!”