The Bent Page

Sometimes when you’re traveling, you meet the kind of person who can only be described as “original.” I mean this in the true sense of the word: the first of a kind. Well, one of the people I’ve met and become friends with who meets this criteria is Mr. Speziale of Aruba. I first met him in the 1990’s and over the years he’s shown me more of Aruba than anyone else. He grew up on the island, living in the colony that Exxon built for its American workers who operated the oil refinery here. Thus, he had a unique childhood. There were 21 people in his high school graduating class. He went on to work for Exxon in Alaska and New York City among other places. He returned to his boyhood home in retirement. That’s him on the left receiving his personal copy of An Island Away, which I’m hand delivering to him at Charlie’s Bar.

Thanks to my friendship with Mr. Speziale, I was able to see and do things in Aruba that I would have otherwise missed. Through him, I got to know Charlie (owner of the World Famous Charlie’s Bar), and Charlie (may he rest in peace) is one of the characters in An Island Away. More than simple introductions or explanations, Mr. Speziale provided running commentary as a sort of curator for the town of San Nicolaas and Aruba in general. This type of first hand information and insight is critical to good story telling. I’m grateful to know him and look forward to many more years of friendship.

Have you met someone who is an original? Let me know here or post on your own blog.