Hi Everyone,

Hope you have enjoyed the race this year. I sure did. I learned so much about racing. I’m sure what I have learned will help me reach my goal to be a lead dog.

I want to tell you about a special treat I had on Friday. My human took me to Birch Hill Elementary to meet 4 classes of 2^nd graders. These 2^nd graders have spent the past month learning all about the Iditarod. They have done some really neat projects like following mushers on the trail and having an Ikidarod. They showed me the special sleds they used for their race. A parent had made them and they looked great. I was also impressed at the questions they asked. You could tell the teachers had done a really good job teaching about the race.

I didn’t go alone. Both my humans came with me and my grandma Lyra was also there. It was good having my grandma around. She has done a lot of school visits and told me what I was going to need to do. I haven’t been around a lot of little humans (called students) and was a little nervous. Grandma Lyra told me that students are great and that they would really like me. She was right. The big humans (called teachers) were also really friendly. They took me for walks and gave me big pats and hugs. They even had water bowls set out for us. That was really nice because we got really thirsty.

One of the human teachers, Mrs. Gorelick, and her student teacher took us around the school before the students came, and Lyra and I got to meet all the other teachers and the lead dog human (called principal). They also helped us bring in the sled and other equipment. We brought booties, and harnesses, the sled, a snow hook, sled bag, etc. so the students could see what they looked like.

I did 2 presentations. There were two classes at each one. The students asked questions that my humans answered. They showed the sled and some of the students got to stand on the runners and pick up the sled to see how heavy it is. They seemed surprised that it was so light and that they could pick it up. Then my human put a bootie on me. I don’t wear booties often and am still not use to them. I tried to get it off by shaking it and biting at it but it stayed on until my human took it off. No one told me that I had to have those things on my feet. Then my human put a harness on me. I was a little confused because they didn’t take me for a run. My human explained that it was on for the students to see how it fits and what it looks like. That was okay. Having my harness on was much better than having booties on.

Then it was time for the students to go back to their classes. My humans cleaned up and we packed up to go home. I was really tired and slept most of the way.

I want to thank Mrs. Gorelick for inviting me to visit the school. My humans, grandma Lyra, and myself had a great time and enjoyed meeting everyone. Keep up the great work you do and study hard.

Happy trails,

Gypsy