Bill Tait’s “story”…

I have to admit, I thought I was through for the day with taking photos. But, here is one of Bill Tait. As I was walking out of Yacht Haven Grande’s computer center to consume my next rum of the day, I met Bill Tate. He is a friend of several of the staff there and we started talking about the Caribbean Island life. As our conversation unfolded I asked him how long he had been on-island and what brought him here in the first place. The story that unfolded is what I would want any mid-20 year old to hear. ( He offered to take me back to my place instead of me getting a cab, so we had a friend take a picture of us with his favorite island car.)

He grew up in Michigan. Got tired of the cold weather and took a “flier” by coming to the Virgin Islands for a few weeks to check it out. He said he was never the “popular kid”, and really liked to play with computers and designing websites for his friends. He has now been here for over a year and the Caribbean “bug” has bit him hard.

He stepped aboard a sailboat for the first time last year. He is now a part of a racing team with their yacht parked at Yacht Haven Grande. He is a bartender at Frenchmen’s Reef and this was his day off. He confided in me that his life has been changed because of taking the risk to leave the shore and seek adventures in the world other than Michigan. We spoke about the experience I had at the Miami airport last night while meeting two amazing Caribbean characters, Betsy and Marques. Bill said the Betsy and the “gang” at her bar kept his spirits when from time to time he wondered if he was doing the right thing. He could not believe that I had shared a dinner with Betsy last night. His comment about that was I had an evening with a woman who has changed the lives of many people who come to the Virgin Islands seeking their dreams.

Bill let me know there was a quote from Mark Twain that also kept him going when times were tough this past year.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

He also let me know he could not have done it without loving and supportive parents who did not come from judgment because he wasn’t fitting the mold of 99% of what Bill’s friends have ended up doing. It truly does take a village to help all us figure stuff out. So, let’s raise a glass to Bill for giving the Caribbean permission to impact the direction of his life. We made a pact to meet at the Rum Hut at Havensight on Friday night and meet some more of his interesting friends. I am sure you will be hearing more about that evening on Saturday’s postings.

I am looking out my window at one of the thousands of sunsets I have witnessed in the Caribbean, and the words that keep coming back to me is, “Welcome Home!” Until next time…