Aruba Eye Candy

[charlescroes]

The people on Aruba are truly candy for the eyes. Like chocolates, they come in white, light and dark browns and sometimes a bit nutty. Sometimes these candies are tightly wrapped and other times loose. They can be found in a box, in the can or sharing the same “bag” with others. Sometimes the “people candy” blends into the landscape and a small critter or two will be included. The individual colors, sounds, shades and shapes are of no consequence, it is the total that counts. It is the luscious fattening feeling of it all. No visual dieting is needed, wanted or accepted during those special moments. You just have to learn to sit back and enjoy the chocolate.

If you drive out to the natural bridge, there is a place where you come to a fork in the road. One side goes to the right on the long winding ocean-side road to the (now fallen ) natural bridge. The other side (the left turn) goes to the “Gold Smelting” facility that looks like a large and fallen castle in an old movie. If you stop just about 100 meters before getting to that fork and look out to the left, you will notice a series of fallen structures that are in perfect line and lead to the ruins. They seem to be there to have once either supported something or to be used for “Some” reason that is directly related to that ruin. At that spot, with your car facing directly to the ocean, stop and look directly out of the right hand passenger window and you will see a small white Cunucu house. It is about 500 meters off and nestled against the hill there. That hillside is a great place to walk. The wind comes off the ocean laden with salt and a coolness not found anywhere else on Aruba. There is moss on the ocean side of the larger boulders. It is a peaceful place and I like it very much.

The last few times we have stopped to walk and admire this landscape, I looked at the front area of that little home and noticed a dog in front of the house. He was blackish and “rib-counting” thin. His snout was pointed and ears stuck up in two perfect triangles that swiveled in search for or identifying sounds. This animal had perfected stealth. Every time I saw him, he would lie there motionless - curled in knot with only the head and ears protruding. He seemed healthy and very much in control.

On one of our walks – Junior and I were about half way up the mountainside that is somewhat close to the Cunucu house when we heard a loud and sharp whistle. There off to the right of us was a man, his female partner (notice I stopped saying wife?) and a kid about 16 years old. The father was a tall thin Caucasian and the mom was Negro and also tall with the radiance that comes from the faces of pregnant ladies. Their son was taller that either parent and a strong candidate for “Mr. Good-looking- make-them-swoon-of-2007) The boys color is best described as ‘Coffee’. They walked towards us and there, off to the side, was the skinny “Stealth” dog jumping from boulder to boulder and skimming along rocks as if he was skating on ice.

After saying hi and introducing ourselves, I mentioned that they had a “neat dog”. The tall father told me that actually it wasn’t theirs but that it lived in front of a Cunucu house and then pointed to the one where we had seen him all knotted up in front so many times. The family was “Dutch” from Holland and here on vacation. Our conversation was halting and filled with apologies due to my limited “Dutch”. Anyway, their son befriended mine and the two of them walked with the dog a bit further while we adults we sat and chatted. The next day they would be returning home to Holland and wanted to have one last walk along this lovely coastal area.

The afternoon moved along nicely and finally it ended and we were in our car headed home. I could see my 4yr and 11 month old son was pensive and had a question for me. He was busy formulating it and I started to some anticipating. Would it be the language and how would I explain the concept of “Dutch” HMM Perhaps the racial thing but that is no big deal on this island. HMMM. Maybe the walking on the coast with some else’s dog and having the dog respond to whistles. HMMMM Perhaps it would be about the whole family being tall. HMMMMM I more or less prepared myself and hung on until he broke loose with it.

Sitting in the back and looking at my eyes in the rear-view mirror, he said:
Papi – como se llama el pero? (Dad, what is the dogs name?)

I looked at him and said – “Yo no se” ( I do not know) Yep. I – your all knowing and well prepared for all the important issues of the world father, do not know. I thought to myself… How poorly we prepare ourselves for the right things and how well we prepare ourselves for the wrong things. I felt a bit “Nutty” and certainly tightly wrapped.

Sometimes the “people candy” blends into the landscape and a small critter or two will be included. The individual colors, sounds, shades and shapes are of no consequence, it is the total that counts. You just have to learn to sit back and enjoy the Aruba chocolate.

be well

charles

[Elaine S]

Nice story, Charles.... and, great title ~ kinda catchy!! I likened it to arm candy.

Aside from a gazillion other things I love about Aruba is that it has no color line, it's simply a melting pot of "everything." Sure wish it could be that way here at home.

Thanks, as always!!