My uncle Frans mailed me a photocopy of the letter and photographs sent to him by the Cultural Centre of Suriname’s librarians. Quite a few years ago now he sat down at his typewriter and plonked out a book about being an extra in Dutch films and TV shows. He was interviewed and had articles written about him in the news. My very favourite part is the title. De Eeuwige Figurant: In de schaduw van de sterren. The Eternal Extra: Life in the Shadow of the Stars. If I didn’t already love him to bits, that’d just about do it.
When the interest in his book died down, his publisher let him know that they were going to be remaindered or destroyed. He couldn’t let that happen, so he bought every last one for himself. I happened to look inside the glass of my oma’s cupboard the last time I was in Holland and saw stacks upon stacks of them piled up. It must have cost him a fair penny on his pensioner’s income.
So, now he gives a copy of his book to just about everyone he meets and sends them far and away to places like Suriname. I’m sure the response back and their sweet letter made his day. Much the same way his sharing the pictures and letter made mine.
He is one of a kind.
