Gotta Be Good Or I Wouldn't Stay

[charlescroes]

I read something on one of the other boards some days ago that helped me to dig up this memory. Take it for what it is worth.

Many years ago (abot 25 or so) there was a roberry at one of the hotels. There used to be a guy that wrote for a tourist oriented paper and he wrote this article that had verbiage that went something like:

Eden has just let the snake in and our apple is now the fruit of thieves.

Kind of nicely put together as far as images go but not quite accurate. Interestingly enough, this same writer (a hell of a nice guy) went to St. Martin on a vacaton with his kids (we are now talking about 23 +/- years ago) and he was robbed at gun point. As it turned out, it was a traumatic event for his kids and he ended up sending them back to live with their mom in New York and folowed shortly thereafter.

I went to his send-off party and a small group of us spent most of the night trying to talk him into staying. We knew it was no use however it is what you do. Finally asked him if he still remembered the details of the robbery he wrote about - the one at the hotel and - what happened. He told me that it was a camera that was left on a beach chair and that had been stolen, however, the thief left behind the roll of film. Kind of a Caribbean Robin Hood thing to do.

He went to New York, dissappeared into the masses and never got back in touch with anyone. No Nancy Grace and no reports in papers and no banning New York. He just left. Clean break

I thought about him about four months ago when a tourist told me that she had lost her camera and that this island was going to hell. As I conducted my last piece of business with her and her very angry husband, an elderly man came to our kiosk and walked up to the couple and said "is this yours?" It was the camera. This guy (a janitor) had found it in the mens (pool-side) bathroom and the lady then remembered that She had put her name on it in the event it was lost and that her husband had taken it to take pictures of some parrots by the pool.

Lots' of smiles and thank you and WOW you guys are the best etc.
The camera was one of those disposable kodak things you can take underwater and worth maybe $35 and the memories in it were worth a fortune (Iknow it sounds like a VISA commercial).

The man tried to give the elderly janitor a tip, which he refused to take.

Yes we have more crime than we used to have. Yes we have more condos. Yes we have aquired a different image than we used to have. Yes - yes - yes. All of it true.

Yet - and this is only my opinion - we have just got the damnest little island here and I love living here. Quite honestly I could live in other locations, however thoughts of leaving Aruba are as fleeting as is my preoccupation for the safety of my family here.

At my age (not to be mentioned) I have been blessed with a son. This is the last major responsibility I will have.

His safety is priority #1 and folks -

I am staying.

If there is anything I can ever do to help make things better, I will, however, I am staying here for one reason - the safety of my family.

Had to get that off my chest. Sorry to be a bore. This is my little section anyway.

Smile all, and be ever so well
Charles
arubafastphones.com

[Elaine S]

Originally Posted by charlescroes

I thought about him about four months ago when a tourist told me that she had lost her camera and that this island was going to hell. As I conducted my last piece of business with her and her very angry husband, an elderly man came to our kiosk and walked up to the couple and said "is this yours?" It was the camera. This guy (a janitor) had found it in the mens (pool-side) bathroom and the lady then remembered that She had put her name on it in the event it was lost and that her husband had taken it to take pictures of some parrots by the pool.

Lots' of smiles and thank you and WOW you guys are the best etc.
The camera was one of those disposable kodak things you can take underwater and worth maybe $35 and the memories in it were worth a fortune (Iknow it sounds like a VISA commercial).

The man tried to give the elderly janitor a tip, which he refused to take.

Yes we have more crime than we used to have. Yes we have more condos. Yes we have aquired a different image than we used to have. Yes - yes - yes. All of it true.

Yet - and this is only my opinion - we have just got the damnest little island here and I love living here. Quite honestly I could live in other locations, however thoughts of leaving Aruba are as fleeting as is my preoccupation for the safety of my family here.

Funny that you should post this today... I had a heated discussion with someone last night who's never been to Aruba, and I don't think could even find it on a map, but who had so called "expert knowledge" of "bad" areas, crime, drugs, etc. Needless to say, the conversation went from bad to worse, causing me to use a few four letter words that come easily anyway!

In my opinion, and for what it's worth, Aruba's image has only changed in the eyes of people who've never traveled there.... and, never planned on traveling there at any time.... and, people who follow a herd mentality.

No matter where one goes, one has to assume some responsibility for herself/himself... and, use good sense along with sound judgment. There's no total and complete utopia in the entire world, but as far as I'm concerned, Aruba's the closest thing to perfect. I must admit that my opinion is probably tainted since I've been going to what I call my paradise for 13 years... and, there's no other place I've ever traveled to that can touch it.

There are always a few rotten apples in the bunch... but overall, Arubans are the most honest, kindest, most caring people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing... and, I cherish their friendships. Does the camera story surprise me?? Not one bit... it's Aruba!

Yet - and this is only my opinion - we have just got the damnest little island here .... Charles, you're damn right!!!
(even if some don't follow through with their promises of wine and fruit)

[Joe Lynch]

Elaine - I couldn't agree more. I have a friend, one who has an opinion on everything, and she often starts in on evil Aruba especially the Holloway tragedy. I have decided to go against my normal patience self and just tell her "...don't even start..." when she begins one of her triades. My wife get upset with me when I do, but too bad. She's never been on the island, never will, and we can all thankful for that.

[Corrine]

Originally Posted by Joe Lynch

Elaine - I couldn't agree more. I have a friend, one who has an opinion on everything, and she often starts in on evil Aruba especially the Holloway tragedy. I have decided to go against my normal patience self and just tell her "...don't even start..." when she begins one of her triades. My wife get upset with me when I do, but too bad. She's never been on the island, never will, and we can all thankful for that.

Joe, I have a friend and a co-worker similar to your friend! I have given up and won't go there anymore with them! You can't win!

[Elaine S]

Joe... each time it happens, I promise myself I'll walk away and keep my mouth shut, BUT I just can't let them have the last word and think they're right.. I certainly wouldn't want to start with me!!! Sometimes my trait of being "honest to a fault," gets me in deep sh_t. lol

Originally Posted by Joe Lynch

Elaine - I couldn't agree more. I have a friend, one who has an opinion on everything, and she often starts in on evil Aruba especially the Holloway tragedy. I have decided to go against my normal patience self and just tell her "...don't even start..." when she begins one of her triades. My wife get upset with me when I do, but too bad. She's never been on the island, never will, and we can all thankful for that.

[Jimbo Jones]

Originally Posted by Corrine

Joe, I have a friend and a co-worker similar to your friend! I have given up and won't go there anymore with them! You can't win!

From where I sit, the Holloway tragedy has little to nothing to do with Aruba. It is a familiar story - that is playing out once again in my hometown of NYC. It invloves the potentially fatal combination of alcohol, youth, and foolishly trusting someone you barely know. It unfortunately happens more than we know.

No one is blaming this girl's death on NYC. And it is wrong to simplistically place the blame for Miss Holloway's disappearance on Aruba.

btw - after watching the Primetime ABC interview with Joran (sp?) - it reminded me of a similar interview Diane Sawyer did with Scott Peterson.......

[Elaine S]

Jim ~ I tried skirting the issue here because I don't want to cause problems for sherry, corrine or kevin. You, being a newbie, didn't know that a decision was made long ago that we would no longer discuss this case... it's a no win situation. This board has been there ~ done that.

I'm just so damn proud of that island... and her people! You'll see... it'll grab your heart and soul.

[sherry]

elaine, you are exactly right with everything you said. jim, you have no way of knowing what was done in the past but we don't use the 'n'(atalee) word on this board.

people, please keep this thread about aruba, not the 'other' thing.

Originally Posted by Elaine S

Jim ~ I tried skirting the issue here because I don't want to cause problems for sherry, corrine or kevin. You, being a newbie, didn't know that a decision was made long ago that we would no longer discuss this case... it's a no win situation. This board has been there ~ done that.

I'm just so damn proud of that island... and her people! You'll see... it'll grab your heart and soul.

[charlescroes]

Originally Posted by Jimbo Jones

From where I sit, the XXXXX tragedy has little to nothing to do with Aruba. It is a familiar story - ......

Jimbo - You said what you said and that is what it is. Probably best not to mention it again. If you only knew the heartfelt damage that event caused so many of us . If you only knew. If you only knew.

Reminds me of something my grandfather said after catching me doing something he felt was wrong. As his wide hand stung my rear end (well deserved I might add.)

He called me "Papi"

"Papi - you will move on and remember the love and not the spanking"

If he only knew how much I loved him and how easy it was to forget the well desrved spanking.

Actually it wasn't easy to forget (am still talking about it).

charles
arubafastphones.com