With information just a click away via the computer, the world seems to get smaller and smaller everyday. News of an accident or tragedy involving a performance boat flashes across various boating outlets instantly. An incident that once only affected a handful of involved people, now reaches thousands within moments of the occurrence.

Due to our performance boating “family” being a niche group, most of the time when you hear of an accident, often you know the involved personally, know someone who knows them or have shared a story or a drink with them at a poker run, race or other boating event, even though the collision may have taken place halfway across the country.

All of these feelings bubbled to the surface while I was at the 2010 Desert Storm Poker Run in Lake Havasu, Ariz. I noticed on the participant list a Bruce Gibson out of Tennessee. The name rang familiar and then I realized why: Bruce was the soul survivor of the horrible collision that occurred on Labor Day weekend in 2006 on Lake Texoma in on the Texas/Oklahoma border. The collision involved Bruce’s boat Nashville Catz and Gordon Mineo’s boat Flash Gordon, and I can pretty much guarantee anyone reading this blog needs no reminding of the tragedy that unfolded that day.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to see Bruce signed up for the Desert Storm Poker Run. I managed to catch a few glimpses of his beautiful 399 Skater that he currently runs. Seeing Bruce out there brought a smile to my face. The site of him enjoying the weekend flooded my senses with an appreciation for life and all it has offered me.

Well known and liked by practically everyone who has come into contact with him, Bruce seems to epitomize the hardcore performance-boating enthusiast and his love for this lifestyle is evident to all around him. I’m glad to see his passion and love for boating continues today seemingly un-wavered.

I write about this not with the intent to drum up horrible feelings of the past but to show the celebration of life. The fact that those left behind after a catastrophic event will overcome and forge on should be nothing short of inspirational to all performance boaters and a testament to the will of man.

Bruce, of course, is only one example of the extraordinary mental strength it takes to carry on. Off the top of my head, I can think of a handful of boating incidents that have left families in shambles.

Just remember—stories like Bruce’s should be a warning to all of us that life is short and that things can—and will—change suddenly and sometimes drastically. The old saying “Carpe diem” rings true. Seize the moment, seize life, soak it up for everything it’s worth and enjoy it every day and every moment, while you can.

Go hug your family, tell them that you love them and enjoy this summer on the water in a safe, fun fashion.