Dear Barbie,

I've only just heard. I'm so sorry. Are you all right?

I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now. I've been through my share of breakups, but you and Ken -- you two were like an institution! After so many years, well, I don't know whose idea it was to split up, but you must be feeling blue either way. And right before Valentine's Day, too! Isn't that typical.

I just hope you're not sitting around the townhouse eating Haagen-Dazs straight out of the carton. Without me.

I know we've kind of lost touch since the '70s, when you and I used to spend a lot of time sunning ourselves on my bedroom carpet, pretending it was the beach in Malibu. You had that terrific camper, and you were all the things I aspired to be: tanned, blue-eyed, tall, long-legged. But we never saw Ken all that summer, though we partied with Raggedy Ann and those overdressed Madame Alexander folks.

Even then, I have to say, I wondered if he was right for you.

Maybe I shouldn't say that, because you two will probably end up getting back together. I hope you can work things out. But you need to make sure you and Ken have a very honest discussion about what needs to change in order for the relationship to move forward. He won't want to do that, of course. He'll want to go surfing or something.

But if you're going to save your relationship, Ken's going to have to do some growing up. Look at you -- you used to spend all your time in bathing suits and ball gowns, but you moved on. You became an astronaut, a veterinarian -- it hasn't all just been glamour and leisure for you. Though it has mostly, I guess.

Meanwhile, what is Ken doing? Does Ken have a job? Frankly, I think he has been riding your coattails for far too long. He was a lot of fun when life was about driving around in a convertible with you and Skipper, but then you started making movies and hobnobbing with the likes of Kate Spade and Bob Mackie. It doesn't take Dr. Phil to see that Ken feels threatened and upstaged by your success.

Look at your movie titles: "Barbie of Swan Lake," "Barbie as Rapunzel," "Barbie in the Nutcracker." No wonder Ken feels overshadowed. Maybe he should use this time to work on his own film career. If he could star in "RumpelstiltsKen" or "Lord of the Rings: The Return of Ken," he might feel more secure. He could be the new James Bond. Ken has a closet full of tuxedos!

Even though I can see why he may have become distant lately, I think he's crazy to risk losing you forever. You may be in your 40s now, but no one would ever know it. You look gorgeous! You've still got that impossible figure and not a wrinkle or sag anywhere. And you need to keep that in mind as you get ready to date again. I know you may not feel up to that yet. You probably can't imagine being with anyone but Ken. Maybe you think no one else would want you. Don't be silly!

I happen to know G.I. Joe has had a thing for you for ages. True, he's not very suave. As a career Army man, he's got some rough edges and not a lot of fashion sense. And you'd probably want to watch out for that Kung-Fu Grip.

Still, keep an open mind and don't rule anyone out. The best thing you could do right now is date casually and not get tied down. Especially if Ken told you he wants to be friends. If he's going to pull that on you after all this time, you DEFINITELY need to date. Being just a friend, he won't mind if you find romance elsewhere, right?

Ken may have doggedly avoided making a commitment and settling down -- I suppose he worries that he won't look so dashing as Fixing the Sink Ken or Changing Diapers Ken -- but that doesn't mean there isn't a guy out there who will take your needs and dreams seriously.

Anyway, the most important thing right now is to take care of yourself. Get some fun new clothes -- I know you will! -- and a new hairdo. Just do me one favor: Don't rush right out and get a tattoo.

Right now you may want to reinvent yourself as Biker Chick Barbie or Pierced Slacker Barbie, but don't let fears you may have about the future bring on an embarrassing midlife crisis involving permanent ink. Hit the beach or fly off to Europe for some fashion shows.

And let me know if you're feeling down or lonely. I'll rustle up some of the old gang -- what ever happened to Dawn? -- and we'll have a girls' night out. We'll have nachos and margaritas and flirt with waiters. We'll have a slumber party at the townhouse. We'll go camping in the RV. You can forget all about Ken and his playboy nonsense.

Barbie, he's been toying with you.