I've never wanted to be famous. Luckily, I don't see any chance of that ever happening. However, I have wanted, since I was a wee lad, to have my work be known. 

In the same way parents want their children to have a successful and happy life, I've wanted my creations to thrive and take on a life of their own.

There have been glimmers of that, here and there, throughout my cartooning career. 

At one time, I had over 1 million users of an emoticon site that I created and ran called UnkyMoods.com. I've had fans of my comics contact me from places like France and Malaysia to let me know they couldn't get enough of my work. I've been asked for my autograph.

All of that is cool, but a little unsettling for someone who values his anonymity. Like I said, it's the work I want to be known, not necessarily me.

So when the Lodi Public Library invited me to speak about cartooning to a group of kids, I jumped at the chance. Toward the end of March, I'll be talking to a group of youngsters about how to draw, where to find inspiration and what makes a comic strip really funny.

It's not me they're after.

The key to this is that the children will be coming to learn about comic strips, cartooning, funny things — not me. I'm just some goofy dude with a marker, scribbling on big sheets of paper. It's a chance to share a world that I instantly fell in love with the day I discovered it over 30 years ago. 

It's a chance to show kids the power of one's imagination, and what can happen when you let your creative free.

And, hopefully, when they leave, they'll have the desire and determination to make their life's work count for something.

If any of them happen to get famous from their work, I'll ask 'em for their autograph on that day.