The first time I saw Portia Hopeful in Cathie Christie's studio, about fifteen years ago, I was grabbed by the expression on her face - the sad, yet hopeful look, simultaneously appealing and disappointed. - She's been sitting in that chair, a long time, all dressed up, waiting for someone to ask her to dance.

I knew immediately that I had to have Portia.

So, I purchased Portia from her maker, artist Cathie Christie, and sat her in my music room. To this day, even people who have seen her before, are startled to meet her again. She is aging a bit. Her decollete dress is dropping … her stockings are getting wrinkled , her fake fur wrap has been visited by a few moths … but her face still has that mournful, but hopeful yearning expression. Sometimes I see myself in her.