Remembering

I think about when I was younger, where I am now, and how things have changed. I look at where I have been, what I have done, what I have lost, and what I have gained. Sometimes I am not sure where I lost track of it all. I grew up in northern Wisconsin, but found myself living in Kentucky, London, Africa, Missouri, and found a home in Australia. All those places are my home, so where do I ever call "home"?

I continue to be a free spirit, a wanderer. Where I feel most comfortable, on the bike. It takes me anywhere, brings me to anyones, and gets me to see anything.

(Photo credits to: Thomas D Compton)

I feel like I work hard, but not hard enough. I push myself, but not far enough. I hold back. I misjudge.

Times comes and goes so quickly. And sometimes it can be taken from us. In such short time we lose so many that we love. Some are even taken from us doing the things we love the most.

Love with everything. Don't waste time. If you love doing it, do it. And remember the beauty that we are given. Carla was surely a beautiful thing. Her words spoke to us, and with each pedal stroke we saw what she had in store for us. We know her talent was rare, but we cherish every moment that she was given to us.

My favorite memory of when I first met Carla:

It was in 2007, Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals in Banner Elk, North Carolina at Lees McCrae.

Muddy, wet, and cold, we all warmed up for the xc race.

She rolled up next to me during warm ups wearing tennis shoes and flat pedals. I looked at her and thought, man she is going to have a rough day. I asked her if she used clips ever and Carla responded that she chose to use tennis shoes because it'd be easier to run the course in the mud than to ride.

We laughed and there wasn't any more need for explanation. The logic worked. And she proved it to us. She finished in 3rd place, and only went on to do amazing things afterwards. She always will stick in my head though, as wearing her blue helmet and those tennis shoes. My how we evolve.

RIP Carla