Annual Reflection

I don't often share my personal life on LinkedIn, but today is an exception.

One year ago today at approximately 7:45pm Mountain time, my life changed. Coming off a great celebration of my birthday the day before, I was looking forward to a great balance of 2020 as I continued to grow my business.

As I was riding my motorcycle back home, I saw a vehicle waiting to enter the road where I was traveling. Not overly concerned as the road I was on had two lanes and I was traveling in the right with my cruise control set to the posted limit of 55. As I approached the vehicle I could see that the driver had ample opportunity to turn either right or left into the direction I was traveling since there was no traffic whatsoever as far as the eye could see. Nonetheless, I disengaged my cruise control and reduced my speed to approximately 50 miles per hour, it was about that time the vehicle pulled out and turned left, about to go in the same direction as myself. However, instead of turning into the left lane, this driver made a wide left turn into the right lane, cutting me off. At the rate of speed I was traveling if I had not locked up my rear brakes I would have collided with this vehicle. So, in a literal split-second, I pulled in my clutch and locked up my rear brake. I avoided the car that cut me off, but as I tried to regain control of my bike I ended up in what we call a "death wobble".

It is exactly what it sounds like. I rode it hard for what seemed like several minutes, but I am sure it was just a few seconds until it got so violent that it bucked me off my bike at approximately 40 MPH sending me flying in the air toward a ditch on the side of the road. I hit the asphalt, rolled, slid, and came to a stop in the moist, rocky ditch. I was in pain, but alive. I looked at my motorcycle and could see it was fairly straight in the middle of the road with my iPhone still in the tank bag and my music still playing through the speakers. I dusted off the rocks from my hands and tried to stand up, but when I put weight on my right foot, I knew someone was definitely not right. I laid there on the asphalt for 10-15 minutes until someone arrived. I had dislocated and fractured my ankle, as well as "blew out" my tendon.

Many of you rallied behind me and supported me during this time, and for that I'm eternally grateful.

I had surgery on 9/1/2020 to repair my ankle and tendon, and took my first steps in early January 2021. Oddly enough, during the time I was recovering, I began interviewing with Qumulo. Thanks to Zoom I was able to meet with everyone while my leg was still wrapped and elevated per the surgeon's orders and nobody really knew that I was essentially living on my couch at that time, incapable of ascending or descending stairs. As a matter of fact, this post is the first time in a year I have shared anything about it here on LinkedIn or Twitter. It was a very difficult time both emotionally and physically, not to mention financially. Many of you rallied behind me and supported me during this time, and for that I'm eternally grateful.

My point in sharing now is to remind us all to be thankful for each and every day we are given. Take time to really enjoy your friends, family, kids, pets, and whoever is special in your life. Take time to live your life because you never know when your life may change.

The driver of the vehicle that cut me off never stopped, and was never questioned. They "got away with it" as they say. I hope they aren't living with guilt, I hope they have forgiven themselves, and have learned what I have learned.

Life really is too short.

Do what you love, with the ones you love.

Chapa, signing off

#LifeLessonsLearned #Motorcycle #Accident #Thankful #Family #Friends