Melanie
To our great sorrow we have to record the death of our dear friend Melanie Montague Carpenter, a vibrant, brave, funny woman: a true original. Everyone here at this blog will miss her very much.
ON THE IDITAROD TRAIL (MORE)
And congratulations to Snowhook Kennel – musher Justin Savidis, CEO Rebecca, and those terrific dogs – led in the end by a surprising member of the team, as you’ll see from Rebecca’s overnight report – on the courageous race they ran this year. A real triumph, given the conditions:
“The dogs did exactly as I trained them to run,” AJ said shortly before he fell asleep. Yes, the dogs did quite well. They led him through terrain, the likes of which he hopes never to see again. They darted through ferocious winds to deliver him to the next checkpoint. And, in the final seventy-seven mile stretch, caught in a blow hole, AJ trusted the dogs he could no longer see in the whiteout conditions. Out of a band of amazing canine athletes and partners who did he choose to lift above his head to touch paw to burled arch?—The whimsical Louisa Mae. Having led sporadically throughout the season she did not rank among his main leaders going into the race. Yet, this sweet girl led the team for the final 200 miles of the race and across the finish line in a race that will go down in Iditarod history.
Stories are slowly being shared about the difficulty of the race, yet each tale is punctuated by the black bruises that span the length of AJ’s body. It was a hard fought finish line.
And now, we rest.
***
Thank you to the Plunderers who made our race possible. It was an honor to dedicate our 2014 Iditarod to Melanie.
Tags: Just, Melanie, Rebecca, Snowhook Kennel
This entry was posted on Friday, March 14th, 2014 at 10:07 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
10:22 am on March 14th, 2014
What a wonderful accomplishment by all the members of Snowhook. Well done Louisa Mae. You all deserve to feel proud.
I’m glad that the race was dedicated to Melanie. Good bye dear friend.
Plunder on everyone.
10:26 am on March 14th, 2014
Butterflies!…In honor of my wonderful, sweet, talented friend, Melanie, I am off to see the Butterflies…sniffle!…We will say a special prayer for her and all of our pals on Chet’s Blog…snorkel!
10:28 am on March 14th, 2014
Well done, Snowhook! Well done.
Can Clyde be named Rookie of the Year?
Well done, Melanie. Well done. sniff
10:30 am on March 14th, 2014
Well done Snowhook, we are still resting with you
10:39 am on March 14th, 2014
Melanie will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her, her family, and her friends. I want to share with you an Eskimo Legend that my dad learned from a friend when Blou went to the Bridge. It says it all.
“Perhaps they are not the stars,
but rather openings in Heaven
where the Love of our lost ones
pours through and shines down upon us
to let us know that they are happy.”
10:40 am on March 14th, 2014
Through the tears, there are such wonderful memories of dear Melanie that have blessed our lives over these past five years (and for Amalia even longer). From the birth of another generation of Newf puppies, to the walk/runs down by the river, the dips in the pool, and the joys of being the mother of the groom, to the everyday good cheer and love that she spread, there are so many wonderful memories that we will have. I know that my life was enriched immeasurably over the too short period that I have known her through her presence here. While her departure is so difficult, knowing that she is at peace and pain free, in the company of those she has loved who have traveled before her, softens the sadness felt at this time. Good luck but not good-bye, as you will remain a part of our hearts forever.
10:56 am on March 14th, 2014
Here is the image that comes to mind:
Our dear friend, stepping up on her soapbox, with a to-do list in hand.
1. Waltzing across the Arctic, helping Snowhook cross the finish line. (Check.)
2. Inspiring an east coast P.I.G. Convention, so that Golinka would not be alone.
(Check)
Items 3-8 are completed and checked off.
And with her list complete, she claps her hands together with satisfaction, and steps off her soapbox and into eternity.
As always, she did things exactly right. Well done, dear friend.
11:22 am on March 14th, 2014
God saw she was getting tired, and a cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around her and whispered “Come with me”.
With tearful eyes we watched her struggle and slowly fade away. Although we loved her dearly, we could not make her stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, beloved woman was put to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
11:22 am on March 14th, 2014
All of you have such beautiful, comforting words. Thank you. Linda said it best for me, “I have no words” to say, at least for right now. I am heartbroken.
Cherokee, I love the pictures of you that your mom is posting.
Howlers, Clyde can be our Rookie of the Year, and Louisa Mae will receive our Golden Harness Award for her outstanding performance during this year’s Iditarod.
11:24 am on March 14th, 2014
Well done, Snowhook!
Well done, Louisa Mae! You rock!
Melanie, what can I say? That you were funny, smart, and wonderful. That you loved your family, and your blog family as well. You will forever be in my heart, and when I look to the night sky, I will be looking for the brightest dancing star, in her purple gown.
I would like to share this in memory of our Melanie.
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footsteps in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”
The LORD replied, “My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
11:50 am on March 14th, 2014
Sorry that I never got to meet Melanie in person….
12:03 pm on March 14th, 2014
Saying Goodbye to Our Friend.
Each morning for the 2 weeks, we have opened our computer to to see something that has never failed to lift our spirits.
The wonderful Snowhook Banner, dedicating this year’s race to the one who loves purple, filled the screen..our own special Plunderer Iditarod Map in one corner.
A smiling face filled with Happiness and Joy looks down on the trail and the Race dedicated to her.
This is how we will always see her…loving her Newfs, laughing and joking and snickering, enjoying her music & books, her great pride in her sons…our beautiful, beautiful friend here with us, now and always, on Chet’s Blog.
And whenever our spirits are down, you can count on it, there she’ll be… saying…”Plunder On!, my friends, Plunder On!”
12:13 pm on March 14th, 2014
Plunder on.
12:13 pm on March 14th, 2014
We have our dear friend. She is wonderful, beautiful and whole. Thank you for taking care of her. Now, it is our turn.
12:23 pm on March 14th, 2014
Melanie’s amazing Snowhook video from 2012:
http://youtu.be/Nmjid55gCeg
12:34 pm on March 14th, 2014
My condolences to Melanie’s family and friends.
12:36 pm on March 14th, 2014
Dear Creator, Thank your for our Heartfriend. Please bless and keep her spirit. Please comfort those grieving the loss. Please bless that she will know how much she is loved. Amen.
12:38 pm on March 14th, 2014
Amen.
12:48 pm on March 14th, 2014
Amen.
1:04 pm on March 14th, 2014
Amen.
1:10 pm on March 14th, 2014
Amen. Sniff,
1:10 pm on March 14th, 2014
Sniff.
1:37 pm on March 14th, 2014
Melanie! We love all of those gorgeous birthday cakes you “baked” for us! Thank you!
1:45 pm on March 14th, 2014
One other thing….
Isn’t it just like our friend to cross the bridge on National Pi day? (3.14)
1:51 pm on March 14th, 2014
Wolfie: snicker!
1:59 pm on March 14th, 2014
Butterfly!….I’ve never been so close to a butterfly before. Is this thing real?…sneeze!…Opps.
2:01 pm on March 14th, 2014
I never thought I’d see the day when Rio would agree to traveling in a pink purse. You look very cute, dude!
2:27 pm on March 14th, 2014
Is that a touch of purple on the pug’s face?
2:45 pm on March 14th, 2014
I’ve never seen tourquise butterfly before…very pretty
2:47 pm on March 14th, 2014
gah…tourquise
3:01 pm on March 14th, 2014
I must say heart leapt when I saw the post from Zoe under the familiar name and Newf avatar. It was almost like a personal goodbye to everyone on the blog.
3:23 pm on March 14th, 2014
Let us not forget there are Courageous Mushers & Teams still on the trail.
At last update the next to arrive in Nome will be Alex Buetow and Newton Marshall.
Newton who Stopped to Help Fellow Musher, Scott Janssen, and wait until help had arrived.
3:30 pm on March 14th, 2014
Wolfie: Chortle…or as BStover would say…National Pie Day!
In preparation for the trip next week, Mom is heading out to the post office, store, far-may-see & gas station.
3:48 pm on March 14th, 2014
What trip is Masquers’ mom taking?
Our mom is already planning her next trip. She read that there will be a Melanie party in the Springtime, when the weather is nice.
For those of you on fb, Melanie’s son Rob posted a very sweet picture of his mom on Zoe’s page.
4:19 pm on March 14th, 2014
Howlers! A trip in the springtime! How KOOL would that be!
To answer your question: My mom will be leaving for Montana next week to visit her sister. This will be a real treat…she has guaranteed seating…no standby. WoooHooo!
Too bad ACatty & Elliot have moved to Missoula. sniff.
Thank you for the heads up on Rob’s F/b post.
Now we are crying again.
4:57 pm on March 14th, 2014
O’Howlers: Nana Always Believed they shared many Interests and after reading Rob’s tribute to his mother she knows for sure.
This somehow makes it so much more Difficult…Knowing they can never meet in this Lifetime to talk about all these Kool Things they both loved…and that she will remain the Best Friend We Never Knew.
5:06 pm on March 14th, 2014
That is sad, BSD. Mom and Kat were so fortunate to be able to meet her. They will cherish that friendship forever.
But Mom believes that we have all met each other on this here blog. Although not a physical meeting, we all share so much more with each other than we share with many friends who we know in person.
5:41 pm on March 14th, 2014
Oddly enough, whenever I’ve thought about Rio traveling it has always been in a pink purse.
5:43 pm on March 14th, 2014
Hey Pancho! Your other half made it all the way to Nome!! Can you believe it?
5:45 pm on March 14th, 2014
Sorry to be so late. It has been a day here.
My last thought as I fell asleep early this morning was
“And the lights all went out in Mass-a-chussets….”*
It must have been a power surge as a new star was born.
*Beegees
I am at the ER with Rick and service is spotty. More later
5:48 pm on March 14th, 2014
Howlers: I am so proud of Lefty even though I don’t like the feeling of being sans. I will be sans no more. The Giant and the Pixie for up early this morning to ship the team home.
5:48 pm on March 14th, 2014
An excellent First Kiss parody from Jimmy Fallon. Thanks to handler Vivien
http://youtu.be/NaGAkU_K_EY
5:56 pm on March 14th, 2014
I wonder if Lefty will recognize me.
Macy: Yeep! Quilt and prayers!
6:34 pm on March 14th, 2014
Macy, mom and dad were at the ER last night, also!
We must be twins!
And the service was worse than spotty.
Hope all is well….
6:46 pm on March 14th, 2014
Dear Melanie–
It was a privilege to share even a tiny part of your journey. Thank you.
7:06 pm on March 14th, 2014
Macy and Wolfie!!! Yeep!
8:12 pm on March 14th, 2014
Hello family – reporting in from the east coast gathering of Plunderers.
It has been a day of laughter and tears and hugs and support. We have done lots and lots of talking. Then we went to the butterfly conservancy and spent the whole afternoon surrounded by flitting, fluttering, beautiful wings. There is such joy there – it is impossible to be there and not be smiling.
There were so many special moments. Two large butterflies kept circling Barb like tegu were vying for her attention. Then two more decided they needed to sit with her a while
After that, a blue butterfly danced in front of me, stopped and landed in my lip – just for a minute. Each one of us was visited briefly by a pretty winged one.
When it was time to leave, we joined hands and thanked the Creator for the beauty all around us, the friends whose hands we were holding, and the blessing of having our Beloved Friend in our lives. And we asked that her dance would be as graceful, free and happy as that of the butterflies.
This was an awesome group of women who came here to lend love and support. What a blessing.
8:30 pm on March 14th, 2014
And we had an awesome time today in celebration of our dear friends life.
8:32 pm on March 14th, 2014
ML and Wolfie I hope you both are safe and warm under the quilt. nighty noodle. Watching butterflies for hours is exhausting.
8:33 pm on March 14th, 2014
Butterflies!….There were everywhere and they wanted to be on all of us!…snort!
8:36 pm on March 14th, 2014
Slimy!…Course we saw other stuff besides Butterflies…grunt!…I was forced because I was trapped in that stupid carrier…grunt!…This is something I imagine SiberH digs up time and again…sniff!…Maybe not.
8:40 pm on March 14th, 2014
Leonard!….He had his own pet butterfly, but he was feeling sad today and the butterfly knew he was sad….sniff!…I could feel his sadness too. Leonard is very attune with nature…sniff!…When he said I needed to take a leak I knew he knew exactly what I was thinking at exactly this moment…snort!
8:44 pm on March 14th, 2014
OUT!…I was already OUT!OUT!OUT! but I was baffled as to which plant I should do my duty on…sniff!…They were all marked with little markers and named and quantified…wheeze!…Yeeep!…All I needed was a Big Potted Plant, but there was none to be found…gasp!
8:47 pm on March 14th, 2014
Fish!…I even saw a Butterfly Fish…snort!…Who Knew??…heh!!
8:50 pm on March 14th, 2014
Caged!…I guess the Fish grow up to be Butterflies in Cages…sniff!…Then eventually they are let free to sit on all the visitors…wheeze!…I never did get a handbook so I sort of put this altogether as I went along…chuffle!…Those Butterflies – some exciting life they lead…heh!heh!
8:52 pm on March 14th, 2014
GAH!…This was disturbing and I have no idea what stage of life this is for the Butterfly…gasp!wheeze!
8:54 pm on March 14th, 2014
Finally!…We ordered lunch!…snort!snort!….I tried to find something that did not have butterfly in it…gurgle!
9:09 pm on March 14th, 2014
The butterfly museum was a perfect way to celebrate the life of our dear friend. It cannot fail to fill you with wonder and inspire you with gratitude for all blessings received, the greatest one today being that we had the privilege of knowing this uniquely creative, giving, caring woman who affected us all with her joyful sense of humor. She faced her many challenges with courage and always kept her love for her family and friends secure in her heart. We truly will miss her.
Huge thanks to Amalia and Leonard for allowing us to spend these last couple days with them, celebrating our good fortune to have known and been loved by this wonderful woman. It helped us all cope with our enormous loss. It also helped to have Callie the Great, Tupper & Gilly and Basil & Sage to be our therapy dogs and cats. With a special mention for Tyb, Loulou and Sammie as well. Dog bless us everyone
9:16 pm on March 14th, 2014
Dawson!…Do you know where we are going next?…snorkel!yawn!…Those butterflies wore me out today…heh!…Or maybe its the fact that you all get up two stinking hours before I am even ready to think about opening my bug-eyes…wheeze!
9:40 pm on March 14th, 2014
Goodnight!…I have my other best friend on my mind…sniffle!…I will truly miss you my dear. Each and every day.
9:48 pm on March 14th, 2014
Rio & Dawson: The Wonderful Accounts of your day with the Butterflies, both in Words & Photos, made us Smile, but also Tear-up too.
Maggie: Beautiful Photo of your Barb. We’ve never seen her look happier.
Loved the Photo of the Storyteller laughing at one of Rio’s remarks last night.
9:58 pm on March 14th, 2014
Eastcoast Plunderers: The Wonderful Accounts of your day with the Butterflies, both in Words & Photos, made us Smile, but also Tear-up too.
Maggie: Beautiful Photo of Your Barb. We’ve never seen her look so happy.
Loved the Photo of the Storyteller laughing at one of Rio’s remarks last night.
10:06 pm on March 14th, 2014
On this cold, cold night in Alaska there are mushers still on the trail…many are rookies.
Please say a prayer for all of them. Like one of the mushers who finished the race said…every team crossing the finish line is a winner.
10:14 pm on March 14th, 2014
correction…they are all rookies.
11:02 pm on March 14th, 2014
Gah: A Double Dawson.
11:05 pm on March 14th, 2014
I am very glad that Rio did not breathe on too many flutterbyes. I’m not insinuating that his breath might not be the freshest, but, well, you know.
12:01 am on March 15th, 2014
Wolfie: Earlier you were talking about a trip to the ER last night.
What happened? Is everything okay now?
12:07 am on March 15th, 2014
I never exchanged a word on this page with Melanie, but I have read about and with all of you over the years. My heart goes out to you all as a tight knit community/family. In the community/family I am more openly active with (we love Yellowstone!) we have had two of these major losses. It is not easy even though we stick together and honor the ones who have gone on. Blessing to you. The major blessing of so many of you being together right now has happened. And who knew when you planned it that it would be so needed. And though I barely knew her I think Melanie had no fear. Never the less, I often quote the last stanza of a poem by Nancy Wood called A Change of Worlds. And here are the last few lines….
Why fear this change of Worlds, my friend?
Your courage travels with you.
Your example is left behind
So that others may know
The sweetness of your time.
12:31 am on March 15th, 2014
ALR: thank you.
12:31 am on March 15th, 2014
I sent out messages from the hospital, but I don’t think any of them got out. The news we got today could not have come at a worse time. Rick has liver cancer. That is all we know right now. I am having trouble making sentences, but I wanted my Plunderer family to know, because I am going to need your collective strength. I will tell you more when I know more.
Love you all
1:21 am on March 15th, 2014
Macy’s Mom: we are here for you and Rick. Have no doubt of that.
2:30 am on March 15th, 2014
Here we go again. It has been snowing for 5 hours. I wonder what it will look like in the morning.
4:42 am on March 15th, 2014
Photo taken at 1:30 am. Still snowing like crazy. Time to put on my gear and start shoveling the deck. The driveway will have to wait until morning. At least I have groceries and don’t have to go anywhere.
5:03 am on March 15th, 2014
What a day! ALR, stay with us, please. iPaw isn’t working right 🙁 Tamarra is another day. Peace Purple Princess and Snowhook friends. Love Rio’s adventures.
5:04 am on March 15th, 2014
The Butterfly excursion sounds like a perfect observance and a reminder of all the lives that enrich our own (and that we have the capacity to enrich). Thank you for sharing the photos (and Rio’s insights).
Macy’s Mom–Courage and love to you both. constant prayers and strength added–goes without saying. You are not alone.
5:04 am on March 15th, 2014
Masquers–Mushers still out are added to the prayer list.
5:12 am on March 15th, 2014
A scary thought in the middle of the night…a double Dawson or twin sisters of a different mother!
6:28 am on March 15th, 2014
Great photo!
I just got in from shoveling almost 2 hours. I measured 11″ when I started and it is still coming down. Doing the deck was so hard and I knew if I waited to do the driveway in the morning that it would defeat me and I’d be snowed in. The paper delivery person couldn’t believe it when she showed up at 3 am and drove into my driveway. She said things are bad and that the underlayer is melting and freezing causing ice to form along with the inches of snow. Fortunately, I don’t have plans to go anywhere tomorrow.
The last time I shoveled, I couldn’t heave the snow on top of the high snow berms without it just avalanching down. So my driveway is getting narrower still. The next few days are to be cold and sunny so no melting in sight.
Oodles of noodles for now. After the ice in my hair melts, I’ll go to bed.
6:46 am on March 15th, 2014
Good morning. We have not yet checked the GPS tracker, but we are thinking there are still two Sibe teams out with the remaining ones. Good news for them/bad news for The Giants is that the Awards Banquet is not until Sunday evening.
Macy’s Mom, we are hoping and praying that this was caught early and that Rick and you will win. We are here for you.
East Coast visitors, we are sorry you couldn’t get to see us us and our happy farm. That would have been grand.
Hobbit! Perhaps the ‘rents should have stayed up there with you for the rest of the winter. Then the snow would have stayed away, or at least they could have helped shovel.
Mom told us more snow for us tomorrow and Monday!
6:48 am on March 15th, 2014
Sleepless night in Mass-a-chusetts. Macy’s mom..Love and peace to you with your news 🙁 You have Hounds’ mom’s number for when you need to talk Peace.
7:32 am on March 15th, 2014
Oh no. Macy’s Mom: My heart is in my throat as I write this after reading your news from last night. We are with you all the way, no matter the path.
ALR: Again your words comfort and inspire.
Rio: We are leaving for Buffalo right now.
8:22 am on March 15th, 2014
Macy’s Mom: Sending you and yours love from Wisconsin. And now, thanks to Sharon, I have your new SDD address.
8:51 am on March 15th, 2014
Macy’ Mom, sometimes it seems like the world just caves in on you. But hopefully, this has been caught in the early stages and treatment will take care of it. It won’t be easy but each battle fought will give you and Rick more strength to continue the fight.
Love to you and Rick.
Karen and BooBear
9:14 am on March 15th, 2014
Macy’s Mom, it is very hard to read this news after losing Melanie. Strong prayers being sent to Rick that this was caught early, and he will kick that nasty cancer to the curb. My heart and prayers are with you all.
CHobbit: Yikes!
RIO! Thank you for sharing your road trip with us! The butterflies were lovely, and lots of great pictures too.
Prayers go out to the mushers still on the trail.
I love the picture of our Purple Princess that Rob posted. She looked like a young Dyan Cannon. Love you, Melanie.
10:40 am on March 15th, 2014
One group of Plunder P I G’s has left. One little tiny P I G left.
We did have a wonderful time together. As was pointed out – laughter through tears ….
We are saying prayers for all the mushing mushers, for AJ and Rebecca to get rested up and then get home, for our traveling friends to be safe on the highway and railway, and especially for Rick.
Let’s all find something wonderful to think about today. And smile.
10:57 am on March 15th, 2014
Macy’s Mom: With the others, We are Sending Strong Prayers that this was Caught in Time.
Much Love & Big Hugs to You & Rick.
The Plunderers are With You All the Way.
C.Hobbit: Where oh Where was that Snow when we needed it!
When you had Help On Paw.
When the Iditarod was Racing Full Swing.
ALR: Beautiful Words. Thank You for your post.
To the Rookies still on the Iditarod Trail: God Speed.
To the P.I.G.s Returning Home: Safe Travels.
Royal Mum: Once Again, Wise Words.
11:02 am on March 15th, 2014
Herd’s Mom–Yeah, the matching socks make it especially unnerving…
6:01 pm on March 15th, 2014
I read everything and I cried. I miss her so much. Thank all of the Plunders. I’ll be making some sense later on, I miss my Melanie. Love to you all. Zoe
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