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 It was the first Saturday in March back in 1973, and Isaac
was one of the first mushers to leave on the first Iditarod Sled Dog
Race. I was wearing bib number 37, and since we let a team go every
two minutes, I had plenty of time to help others before it was my
turn.
The announcer was counting down the seconds for Isaac, hundreds of
cold people were standing around in Anchorage’s semi-pro baseball
stadium, cheering and clapping. And then Isaac, a legendary dog
driver as well as a legendary member of the elite Eskimo Scouts
during World War II, looked at me and said, “Where we go?”
“Nome, Isaac.”
“Hokay.”
Then while the world was going insane, Isaac walked up the long
string of dogs and knelt down and talked to his lead dog. Then he
started back toward the sled.
“30 seconds,” said the p.a. system.
Isaac got back to the sled and stood on the runners. He was ready. I
had to ask.
“Why did you go up to the lead dog, Isaac?”
“He don’t know where we go, so I tell him.”
“Zero!” said the announcer.
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Dog and sled holders pulled away from the team
just like a gantry releases a rocket, and Isaac Okleasik shot out of
sight down the trail. He must have given his leader good directions,
because 1,100 miles later, Isaac was in Nome.
And on the first Saturday of every March since then, I say a little
prayer for the dogs and the men and women on trail on that long,
cold camping trip. It’s lonely and quiet out there … and it’s a very
long way to Nome.
[Text from file received from
Slim Randles]
Ol' Jimmy Dollar
is Slim Randles' first children's book. The book is for kids
K-3rd grades and is even better when parents read it with children.
Ol' Jimmy Dollar makes for sweet dreams and if you have a dog
even better. Available now on Amazon.
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