Readers of this blog know that I hold Benjamin Franklin in high esteem as perhaps not only the greatest of Americans to date, but also the first and most wise. Thus, it is only right that I put a few bits of his wisdom here on The Bent Page. The following are a few of my favorites:
Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.
Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure.
He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.
Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
If only these prescriptions were followed more closely. Surely our world would be a better place for all.
Aruba’s slogan is “One Happy Island,” and it fits. Living here, like living anywhere else, requires a pickup truck for reasons I explained in an earlier post. Well, after years of fooling around with the idea, I finally sent my pickup from the United States to Aruba. I’m one happy pickup driver now that is has arrived and is rolling around the island. I put together this video, just for fun, showing various island sights as well as my favorite ride, a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, diesel, 4WD. Take a look.
There you have it, bouncing around the island for work and play. Getting work done around the house will be much easier. I can put an entire pallet of concrete blocks, or of bagged cement, or of lumber in the back. This will save me the delivery charges. Plus, I have enough room to take my wife and three other people on a tour of Aruba. Believe it or not, at the low speeds here in Aruba, this truck gets better than 20 miles to the gallon. That’s quite good considering the power, weight, and capability of the vehicle.
Of course, here’s the bad news. This morning, a damn fool RAN a stop sign and CRASHED into the back of my truck. It doesn’t look so bad from the outside, but underneath, there is a world of damage. So disregard the above mentioned kind thoughts. If you’re so STUPID to IGNORE a STOP SIGN, be glad you’re alive and be glad the guy you hit in the aforementioned truck is one mellow dude. Yeah, he’s happy he and his wife are not hurt. But he sure is pissed off that you smashed his truck to the tune of more than $15,000 worth of damage and counting, (not to mention more than three months getting it fixed here in Aruba) all because you were a DAMN FOOL and disregarded a stop sign. Have a nice day.
The Mangel Alto area of Aruba offers some very good snorkeling. There are several points of entry. Two are shown on the video clip here. There is a third if you drive down toward the beach, past the Nam Yong restaurant, which is located on Spanish Lagoonweg. The underwater still shots that are incorporated into the video were provided my Kent Gerber. Take a look at the video.
When snorkeling here, keep a close eye on the sea conditions. You want to move out toward the reef, but as you do, you’ll find the ocean a bit choppy. It’s not all that difficult to swim in this, just remain mindful of where you are in relation to the shore. I’ve also found some “holes” in the sandy floor in the calm area sheltered by the cliff. Here you’ll find some zany fish and other creatures. However, out near the reef is where you’ll find the best viewing. Again, special thanks to Kent for providing the still shots. Judging by the photos I’ve seen of the fish he has caught, he’s lucky they don’t take their revenge on him when he’s snorkeling. And as always, please respect the marine environment.
There is a Pet Burial Ground near the southern tip of Aruba. It is located several hundred yards beyond Baby Beach. There you’ll find makeshift wooden crosses, small piles of rocks, and even elaborate grave markers, all erected by loving owners for their dearly departed friends. I made this video, which shows the general area and some details, too.
Of course, all pet owners understand the sense of loss and bereavement that occurs when a pet passes. What I like most about this place is the personal nature of each marker. These aren’t things created by professionals, but rather individual works that reveal as much about the owner as they do about the pet.
If you happen to come to Baby Beach or are just out for a drive on the island, stop by this area. It is a poignant reminder that we’re not alone on this planet, that our pets enrich our lives every day, even after they pass into the next world. And always be kind to animals.
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