Lately, there has been so much talk about economic doom that people have whipped themselves into a frenzy of negativity. Politics aside, instead of so much chatter about what can not be done, may I humbly suggest we start talking about what CAN be done. Of course, let’s start with ourselves. (This is because I’m a firm believer that when you point your finger, three more are pointing back. If you don’t believe me, point your finger at something and then take a look at your hand. Get it?) I think we have forgotten how far and how quickly we have traveled along the economic timeline. For instance, I was doing some research in the United States National Archives, and came across this photo:
According to the National Archives, these women are working on this steam locomotive somewhere in Montana, circa 1919. Now, certainly Montana and the year 1919 were not the easiest of places and times. Forget socio-economic conditions, just imagine working against the natural environment and those beasts affectionately known as steam locomotives. Some of the tools used to repair and maintain this equipment were larger than the arms and legs on these women and they were made of steel. Thus, it must have taken two or three women to perform these jobs. And yet, they got the job done, and made the Nation a better place for their children in doing so. Today’s locomotive shops sport hydraulic lifts, computer diagnostic tools, and climate control, not to mention an array of safety measures designed specifically to protect life and limb. The women above had to persevere without such niceties.
Therefore, before we all start bellyaching about how bad we have it, we might better take a look at the people who did jobs exponentially more difficult physically (and perhaps mentally) then we do today. Perhaps CAN and NOT were never placed close together in their sentences the way they are in today’s vernacular. Perhaps these people had the strength and determination to do better for themselves rather than the weakness to cry for government help. Perhaps they preferred the honor and satisfaction of being self-sufficient over the pathetic dependency of being a ward of the state.
So, if all day we speak of nothing but what can NOT be done, well, NOTHING will be done. But if we pause, take a deep breath, and THINK about what CAN be done, well, we might discover just how vast the possibilities are. Initially the future may be uncomfortable, which is simply an expression of the details to which we forgot to attend. Then, as progress is achieved, this minor annoyances will fall away as the pride of achievement rewards those who are willing to do what it takes.
Quite nice with those tensile fabrics overhead. And here is the bar.
They also offer the option of “eating in bed” but that’s not my thing so there is no photo here. Instead, let’s talk about the food. My wife started with the escargot, which she reports as very good. My friend began with calamari sauteed instead of fried. It was an interesting twist and tasty. I went with a plain old shrimp cocktail that met all expectations. Then came the entrees. My wife went with the grilled scallops shown here.
My friend’s wife choose the garlic shrimp, seen below.
My friend selected the red snapper filet.
Finally, I choose the broiled veal chop.
That was one delicious piece of meat, broiled to perfection with a flavorful sauce that did not overpower the natural essence of the underlying chop.
You go inside where you tell the nice lady behind the bar that you would like the Sunday BBQ. You pay her and get a ticket like the one in the photo here.
This ticket you take outside, past the smokers which are doing a great job of cooking up those chickens and ribs as you can see here.
That guy there swings a Chinese cleaver the way Paul Bunyan swung and ax. He whacks a rack of ribs into three parts, a half chicken into four more and then puts them atop a pile of fried rice and cole slaw. A small piece of corn on the cob is added for color and good effect. At this point, most people tote their meal home for a feast. I prefer to dine at such establishments as the characters who appear are nothing short of incredible. Thus, I trot back into the bar, ask for utensils, and proceed to mow down everything you see here.
That’s right, all that food (1/2 a chicken, rack of ribs, about 3 cups of fried rice, 1/2 cup cole slaw and corn on the cob) cost 15 florins, call it an eight and a half dollar bill. Beverages are extra. I enjoy this kind of meal once in a while, especially in this setting. No franchise uniforms, no pre-programmed patter from the staff, no flavorless items found the world over. You’ll see various BBQ’s like this around Aruba, but each one is different. Give one a try; your heart surgeon will love you for it!
The Bent Page 
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