When I come into the room with Red, Connie is often sitting in her chair, her head bent over looking down to her lap. I had not yet seen her full face or seen her radiant smile, although I know she smiles when she looks down at Red. Today, sitting with her and Red, I said, “Connie, you know I’ve never seen your full face, or the smile I always hear about, I’ve never taken a picture of it. Is that possible?”

And she lifted up her head and gave me the warmest smile, another strong and beautiful woman. I know the holidays are hard for me, and it was a wonderful thing to see her smile, so I asked to take her portrait and she enthusiastically agreed. She wanted the people who are sending her letters and gifts to know what looks like and to see how grateful she is to them.

Connie’s address is: The Mansion, 11 S. Union Street, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.