HUMAN

Name: TABATHA & CRANE MEGLITSCH
Age: 35 WITH 7 WEEK OLD
Residence: TAKOTNA, ALASKA
Occupation: TEACHER
Years involved with Iditarod:I STARTED OUT VOLUNTEERING AS A “LISTENER” AT AROUND 4 OR 5 YEARS. SO THAT’S 31 YEARS. WHAT’S A “LISTENER”? MY JOB WAS TO SIT AT ONE OF THE MAIN TABLES. AND I THINK IT WAS LIBBY RIDDLES THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO SIT AND LET HER TALK TO ME AS MUCH AS SHE WANTED; AND LISTENED TO HER STORIES.
Iditarod Role: SPECTATOR THIS YEAR
Current Location: TAKOTNA, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 8, 2019
Temperature: 32F / OUTDOORS

What is your Why?.. Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?:

I JUST LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR. WE DON’T GET VERY MANY VISITORS HERE. AND WE HAVE THE EXCITEMENT OF THE RACE AND EVERYONE COMING IN. AND YOU GET TO SEE A LITTLE SLICE OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND CULTURES. AND THE DOGS ARE WONDERFUL. AND IT GIVES US SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT’S NOT THE MUNDANE EVERYDAY OF RURAL LIFE.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING MEMORIES FOR ME WAS, I WAS 14 YEARS OLD. AND I HAD BEEN HANDLING THE DOGS AND KIND OF MANAGING THE DROPPED-DOG LINE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. AND I KNOW THAT’S VERY YOUNG, BUT I WAS ONLY ONE OF THREE PEOPLE IN TOWN THAT HAD A DOG TEAM SO THAT’S WHY THEY HAD ME STARTING THAT YOUNG. AND THEN AT 14, THE TEACHER WHO HAD THE DOG TEAM, WHO HAD BEEN DOING THE DOG HANDLING PREVIOUSLY, MOVED TO A DIFFERENT VILLAGE. AND THEY CAME AND THEY ASKED ME AT 14 TO PLEASE BE THE PERSON TO RUN IN FRONT OF THE DOGS AND ORGANIZE PARKING THE DOGS. WHICH KIND OF BLEW MY MIND BECAUSE I WASN’T VERY OLD AND I GOT TO BOSS ALL OF THE GROWN-UPS AROUND.

What do you know for sure?:

I KNOW THAT IT KEEPS GOING. AND IT CAN ALWAYS GET BETTER. AND 14 YEARS AGO I HAD MY FIRST SON AND THAT WAS WONDERFUL. I WAS FAIRLY YOUNG. AND THEN I DECIDED TO HAVE ANOTHER SON (WE DIDN’T KNOW IF WAS GOING TO BE A SON OR NOT) BUT ANOTHER CHILD, NOW 14 YEARS LATER. I IDID HAVE BELLA IN BETWEEN. SHE’S 11. BUT 11 YEARS BETWEEN KIDS IS A LONG TIME. AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM GROWING UP AND MAYBE EVEN HAVING MORE.