Talk about humbling: I forgot to mention this, but last night I was informed that I would go up to a classroom of college students and pretty much talk about myself. Magnus has a class this semester called “Art Interpretation;” I’m sure you’ve heard of it or something similar before. The professor that lectures in this particular class has decided to put its focus on all of the conventional fare that “art” implies… and for one of the grades required to pass the class, the students will have to do a paper on a Panamanian artist of any discipline and Magnus has chosen yours truly as a paper subject. Y’see, this is very weird for me. It always has been. I can be cocky and rattle people’s cages and get a high out of it but when someone, anyone, wants to put me on the spot because of my merits then it’s a very humbling experience. I don’t know how to handle compliments… it’s a strange, yet interesting feeling I like to experience as often as I can; I guess that after 2 years of being active as a Panamanian author and still feel rahter humble whenever someone makes a study or paper of me then that means I haven’t lost touch with my roots and haven’t turned intoa pompous ass, so that’s always good. And the fact that Magnus knows me as a friend first and foremost yet he can still see that other side of me is something remarkable… because I’m a goofball. Hell, I wouldn’t listen to me if I were giving a lecture.

The gig’s in August… I’ll see if I can take a tape recorder and post it here. Of course, the thing’s gonna be in Spanish so buckle up for that; also, the more details I get, the more I’ll post about it here… from what I know thus far is the month and the university (USMA, for those in the know). From my last count, this is the third paper someone’s made of me and my work (a lovely girl from Nicaragua did one last year. How she got a copy of the book, I’ll never know; also, another girl, this time from Argentina, did a college paper on Latin American authors and chose me. I’m a hit with the ladies, it seems) but the first one anyone’s made from Panama, at least as to my knowledge. I’m very flattered by this (always am) and I’ll try my best as to not make a full out of my friend when I show my mug over there come D-Day. Anyway, this is as good a time as any to shamelessly plug my book, now online: Mada Faká: Cuentos por Roberto Rivera. “Heroes Ficticios” is coming down the pipe as well, so hopefully I’ll have much to share with y’all.

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