Lucy's moved to Virginia

Lucy, the humanobile pictured here, is a metal sculpture by French artist Vincent Magni. We've had her for a number of years and had many smiles as she bounced and wobbled all over at the slightest touch.

Most recently, I had brought her home and put her in my front garden, by a tree shaded bench, so that she might keep me company as I sit and read.

Just a short time after manhandling her bottom heavy coils into position, without getting whacked too hard by her spring-loaded,flailing arms, I received a call from a woman who had seen Lucy on eBay.

Joanne and her husband Jim knew exactly what a humanobile was, they had once seen one in Paris and years later were still looking for one of their own. Whatever search criteria they entered from Virginia had brought them to us in California.

It was nice to talk with people who have an appreciation for the same character filled sculpture. The questions and negotiations were more like an adoption process than a sale. I almost asked to make a home inspection to see if Lucy would be O.K. Jim and Joanne fell in love with her and we agreed to crate her up for travel.

She's pictured above strapped onto our trailer to bring her back from our home. Below she gets a last sprucing up.

I sent photos of our crated Lucy to Jim and Joanne. We had a discussion about King Tut  and coffins and solved the problem of how to identify her head for ease of un-crating, without someone imagining there was really a body in the box. I drew a smiley face at the appropriate end of the lid.

We had a book about the artist which I shipped to Virginia by fedex so the expectant parents to be would have something to look at to pass the time. Lucy was the cover girl for the book, which means that the artist chose her as his favorite. We all agreed with his selection.

I received an email from Jim: "Lucy arrived a few minutes ago. She's still jiggling with excitement. Thanks for the secure crating.

As mentioned before, you have full visiting rights anytime you get back to Virginia".

I hope we get to take them up on that offer. They were really lovely people and I'd like to meet them.