There were four white guys in their 70’s outside the theater when I arrived. Sometimes when I come to work I think I see fans outside my theater but they turn out to be guests of the Econo-Lodge next door, stretching and getting some air after being in their cramped rooms. But these 4 guys swooped in with 3×5 index cards and I knew that I was about to have a celebrity experience, sort of. Not like Julia Roberts gets.
The first guy asks me to sign a blank index card and “try to write legibly.” He seemed annoyed with what I wrote.The next guy asked “write ‘To Tony’ make it neat.” And Joe asked the same thing- But my handwriting was not acceptable and they pulled out fresh cards. I don’t think they even said ‘please Miss Gomez’- It was ” Now Marga-” I wondered what they wanted these autographs for– but I just asked them if they were going to see the show.The leader said “Yeah sure, now Marga try to form every letter” I told him that’s not how I write my name. He insisted “Just concentrate!”
They were cutting into my blowdrying time but I concentrated on my penmanship for Joe. Almost perfect but a little of my Z skidded off the edge. They shook their heads and pulled out another card. The leader said “you don’t have that many letters. Try to get them all in.” My name felt long and insurmountable and then there was ‘To Joe’. My hand started to shake- Then they started spelling “J-O-E now M-A-R-G-A”
It was 4 autographs and I was wiped out. I’m changing my name to X.

Last night my co-producer and founder of the Puerto Rican travelling theater Miriam Colon arranged for a Latino VIP audience with a Q&A and reception. The theater was packed and there were some folks there who had met my parents. There were several media Latinos including Fernando Campos, a distinguished journalist who had interviewed my dad in the past for ‘Canales’ magazine.

It was so cool to sit on the LBN set with Miriam and field interesting questions. Many of them concerned the artistic process. After spending all the time alone writing, thinking, and performing, it’s a treat to be asked how I did it. And I’ll tell you everything until they break out the wine and cheese.

Happy thoughts on the subway home until this normal looking fellow sits next to me and asks. “Do you smell urine” I said I had allergies and couldn’t smell much. He said he smelled urine anywhere. I said maybe he should get some drycleaning. Then he started warning me about fleas. He said he’s been thinking about fleas and how you could get them and what kind of hell they can cause. I asked him if he was a scientist he said he “No! But I read.” I finally reached my stop I told him to take it easy and sprang out of the train like a Spanish Flea.

Finally I’d like to thank the sweet lady in the audience with the flowers. Thank you for giving me a couple of your flowers after I mistakenly thought the whole bunch was for me.