The Bent Page

I should have posted this first but didn’t think of it until later in the day. Charlie’s hobby was painting pictures. He had a tiny studio on the grounds of his “country manor” as he referred to the old Cunuco house by the beach in Savaneta. There he would paint using acrylic automobile paint in an abstract way. He did portraits and landscapes, decorated totem poles and common chairs. To his friends and some of the tourists he would give these works of art as tokens of his appreciation. Here is the one he gave me.

During my tugboat days, I would often times put this little picture in the wheelhouse, beside the compass. It was a welcome sight on cold or gloomy days. It also reminded me of all the good times I’d had with Charlie and my other pals in Aruba. Now it sits on a little stand beside my bed. It may not be a Rembrandt, but it was a personal gift from a man who had style.

Life isn’t so much short as it is precious. Don’t waste a single moment.

Charlie Brouns, Jr. was the type of person books are written about. He was born in San Nicolaas, Aruba, bounced around Europe a little, then went to Colombia for a number of years before returning to Aruba for good. His father, Charlie, Sr., took over a bar on Main Street in San Nicolaas in 1941. The bar was a haven for sailors and refinery workers as well as the townspeople. With the changing fortunes of the local refinery this clientele declined over the years until Charlie, Jr (hence simply Charlie) decided to turn his father’s bar into a “tourist trap.” He succeeded better than anyone anticipated.

The above photo of the exterior that faces Main Street shows the entrance to the bar and gift shop. Note the motorcycles parked on the sidewalk. There is a Harley Davidson dealership on the island and visitors rent bikes to take a private tour. Ultimately they end up at Charlie’s for some refreshment at the end. It’s common for five to ten bikes to roll into town, loud as an invading army. But it’s all in good fun! In the upper right corner of the photo is a small balcony. This is where Charlie used to sit and watch the town at night. He usually had the company of his dogs or a cat named Screwball.

The interior of the bar is something else. You won’t find more junk per square foot anywhere (at least that I know of). Charlie took trinkets from those original sailors and refinery workers and began hanging them up. Tourists leave behind everything from expired driver’s licenses to old cameras. The following photo shows the evidence.

The bell at the right side of the frame above figures prominently in An Island Away. Anyone who rings the bell has just bought those at the bar a free drink. So be careful, unless you’re in a jovial mood and want to be generous to those of us who would appreciate such a gesture and most likely reward you with the same. Another interesting item in the photo are the small, blue and white liquor bottles shaped like houses. There’s a line of them on the sagging shelf beyond the bell. These were given out by KLM Airlines. If they still contain the original liquor they can be worth up to $1,000. Each one is a replica of a real house in Holland. (My personal favorite is the “WE REPAIR HANGOVERS” sign.)

In September of 2004, Charlie and his friends (including me) were all having a fun afternoon at the bar. He went upstairs to his living quarters to change his shirt. Something happened on the way back as Charlie took a tragic fall that cost his life. Heroic efforts were made on the part of a physician who happened to be with us at the time. To no avail. Our dear friend and host had left this world for the next. We all miss Charlie, his quick wit, friendly teasing, and infinite capacity to improvise to make a regular good time so much better. He always said, “You have to improvise!”