Dante 7/10/15

Every now and then you run across an extraordinary person who makes you feel good no matter the circumstances. That's Dante, the resident cook and pirate, here at TBR. He looks at you and you want to smile just cause he is, or the high fives. Next to my dear friend Julian, Dante is a master of the high five and also hugs. He always wants to make sure that everyone is happy and content with their lives. He's always the one at breakfast telling us what he saw on his 5:30am morning walk or is the last one sitting crisscross applesauce on the floor asking Dr. Gilchrist even more questions about that night's lecture topic. It's always a sad day when he goes to the mainland for his day off to see his wife. I can't imagine living that kind of back and forth life that he does. Anyways, he's always a regular of the late night crew's hangout on the dock. Tonight was very different from what we have been used to. Normally it's high spirits but tonight the stars were out with the Milky Way hazing over part of the sky and there was a sad and serious vibe to everything. It is not my place to tell what he has been through and the experiences he had (and which he told us) but I do want to say, I will NEVER forget the advice that he gave Grace, Austin, and me. We sat holding his hands and grace's hand on his knee drinking in every word. And I will quote word for word....

"Be fucking bulletproof kids..." 

It seems like not all that profound but you would understand if you were there. One of the deepest most powerful talks of my life and a moment and man that I will never forget.