June 17, 2002

It is with no regrets, but a lot of sorrow ("Grief without regret", as a dear friend said), that we announce the passing of one of our family. Meomar's Blunder left us this afternoon (June 17, 2002) at 13 1/2 years of age.

Blunder (one of 5 'oops' pups - Calamity, Faux Pas, Opps a Daisy, Mishap, and Blunder) didn't come to live with us until he was 2 years old - but we had history together. It was on the same run at Jackie and Chris Marshall's place many years ago that I first stepped onto the runner of a sled and that he was harness broke. He was always a favorite of mine and when Marshall's decided to stop sledding and offered me first pick of their yard - it didn't even take a second to decide on Blunder.


Blunder never raced with us, but he turned our first 4 dogs into a real team. He was serious, driven in harness, and a real love in the kennel. He taught us so much.


But his biggest contribution to our kennel was his offspring. Grover, Gus, Smiley, and Camilla -the core of my leaders group and all Iditarod finishers - are all Blunder kids. All of his boys, especially Grover inherited the much loved 'Blunder circle tail wag' and the habit of 'waving' their front leg at you to try and coax you over to visit. They all will ensure his memory lives on in our kennel - as if we could ever forget.


Godspeed, my friend. Know you were much loved.

Karen