wole soyinka

on Saturday night at Cody's Books in Berkeley, astonished me with his energy. He's 70 years old, has been through gruelling physical trials, including 22 months in solitary confinement. He's on a book tour so jam-packed with interviews, readings, signings, speaking gigs, it would wipe out a 25-year old. And everyone seems to ask him the same questions over and over again:

What do you think about the conflict over oil in Nigeria?
Is there hope for democracy in Nigeria? In Africa?
What are the responsibilities of The African Writer?
What Can We Do About Darfur?

Then there are the self-important idiots who don't even have a question; they just want to trumpet their tiny nanosecond of African Experience:

I was in Ghana in the Peace Corps in 1972.......
I visited your country in 1981 and I was told it was a very dangerous place for Americans......

Yet, he fields it all. With grace, humor, energy, presence, attention. Stays awake. Stays engaged. Stays responsive.

I want whatever he's on. And I want to still be on it when I'm 70.