Welcome to my World

Welcome to the domain different--to paraphrase from New Mexico's capital city of Santa Fe which bills itself "The City Different." Perhaps this space is not completely unique but my world shapes what I write as well as many other facets of my life. The four Ds figure prominently but there are many other things as well. Here you will learn what makes me tick, what thrills and inspires me, experiences that impact my life and many other antidotes, vignettes and journal notes that set the paradigm for Dierdre O'Dare and her alter ego Gwynn Morgan and the fiction and poetry they write. I sell nothing here--just share with friends and others who may wander in. There will be pictures, poems, observations, rants on occasion and sometimes even jokes. Welcome to our world!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Iditarod...Day Four

A brief comment on the race. There have already been some early leaders and some changes of rank but the race is far from over. It is still too warm and there is a lack of snow in some parts of the trail. That is rough. Last year they had too much snow and had to reroute some of the trail. This year they may have to reroute to find snow! However there is a severe weather warning covering a good part of the central Alaskan area which is traversed in the middle days of the race.

So far only two have scratched, one before the actual start and the other at about the second checkpoint. My gal Aliy is on her mandatory 24 hour layover at Takotna--I believe that is the spelling of the checkpoint village. She dropped back a few spaces as some others elected to take their 24 hour earlier or farther along the trail but the race is far from over. I'm also rooting for DeeDee Jonrowe, another veteran lady musher whose about a third of the way back in the pack right now. There are a number of seasoned veterans --the Seeveys, last year's winner and his dad,  John Baker, the 2011 winner, Martin and Ron Buser, another father and son pair, Lance Mackay--a four time winner and winner of the Iditarod and the 1000 mile Yukon Quest his first try, both the same year...a list equal to the stars and heroes of more familiar sports and probably athletes of equal or even greater excellence!!

My heart  is with them all. I cry for a dog that gets pulled--some are hurt and come into a checkpoint on their musher's sled and are tenderly cared for and flown back to the starting point or reunited with teammates at Nome at the end of the race. They are such gallant and wonderful animals but they truly are loved and given the best possible care. They run for the love of it, just as much as the mushers. You can see it in their faces.

Godspeed and many blessings to all!

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