I have been collecting dolls since I was eight years old when I was confined to bed for a period of six months with a serious illness. My eighth birthday happened during that time and all the neighbors chipped in and filled two laundry baskets with books, games, toys, dolls, and craft kits that I could use while sitting in bed. The dolls were the seven inch "fashion" dolls from companies such as Duchess, Plastic Molded Arts, and Virga. I was absolutely fascinated with them and played with them constantly, albeit very gently because I wanted to keep them nice. Then for Christmas the year I was ten I got a wonderful Ruth Gibbs china doll. (More about those later) She and the dolls I had gotten when I was eight were the foundation of my now extensive doll collection. Over the years I would pick up inexpensive dolls at various places, but most of my dolls were never seen for lack of a proper place to display them. When my two older children were around five and seven my husband bought me my first "artist", a beautiful Asian baby. And still most of the dolls were never seen. Over time I joined a local doll club (Bux Mont Doll Lovers in Bucks County, Pa.) and finally!, the former boyfriend of our younger daughter, who was a carpenter, built me a wall to ceiling cabinet for the dining room. The point of this story is that I can't believe and am constantly amazed by, the lovely people I've met and friends I've made by being part of the doll world. They are the nicest people ever. I've attended doll luncheons, regional conventions, and UFDC (United Federation of Doll Clubs)national conventions. Everyone is so eager to share what they know about particular dolls and learn what I have to tell. What UFDC says is true - the study of dolls is the study of mankind and our history. I'm involved in a lot of things. I write and publish, sew, play violin, spend as much time as possible with my grandchildren, scrapbook and do crafts, and on, and on. I enjoy everything I'm involved in but nothing beats being with doll people at doll related events. I come home from those events on such a high, I can't help but think "who needs drugs?" Do you have a hobby that gives you such great pleasure? Please let me know. Nana