I consider Shades as a kindred. 

We attended the same college and he was one of my closest buddies. We shared a lot of fun memories, embarassing moments and silent escapes. 

Recently, he made an interesting choice that surprised even myself. I considered him liberal and quite the adventurous type but I guess there will still be things that can surprise you about a person.

Honestly, I want to be disappointed. I want to keep appealing to his better judgement of things (it shows itself every once in a while) but I know better now. 

There will be times that life will throw you a curve ball and though you try to be the better person or the person you'd like to be in such a predicament, it isn't always going to be so. He made the choice he has to live with. It may be a bad choice but it's a move nonetheless. 

To this day, I'm proud to say that I am embarassed by his daredevil stunts.