36 x 16 x 12 inches, c.m.

"Josephina, please don't lean on da bell." A catchy song Louie Prima sang. She was emerging from a large block of white and flawless statuario marble: a female torso - lovely young breasts, wide hips, leaning forward as if expectant.

There was a lot of snow during that February of 1997. The studio was full. The stone room was a cloud of dust and judging from the noise coming from the adjacent welding room it too was full.

Snow never kept anyone from his passion.

It was a week after Liza's birthday. She was thin; her face was pale. Two years of being a pioneer in the world of Invitro Fertilization with five disappointments had taken a toll. But, Liza was passionate; she wanted a baby. Hormone induced mood swings exploring an uncharted dessert is what life had become. And then her cousin Jennifer, with two children of her own, said she would be the surrogate and carry Liza and David's biological child. Four embryos were implanted into Jen's uterus and now all there was to do was wait.

Over the din of working artists I heard quick footsteps; someone running up the stairs. I looked up to see Liza. Her face was brilliant, shining firecrackers, smiling tears gushing. She ran into my arms, "We're pregnant." We clung to each other and cried. We cried for hope, for life, for relief, for gratitude. We cried in disbelief after agonizing tension.

When we finally released each other everyone was gathered around us smiling and congratulating. At the studio we all knew the hopes and fears of one another, and we all cared. I think someone ran to get a bottle of champagne.

Eight months later Luc was born. I never knew a person so full of The Joy Of Life from babyhood as Luc. He will never lose that special excitement even when he becomes a sports phenom as is HIS passion.

I wrote "Conceiving Luc," as Liza and Jen's ghostwriter. The book was published by William Morrow.) All the while I watched Luc in his mother's arms, saw the fulfillment and happiness in my daughters face and tried to put into words all that was in my heart.