Going Rogue: An American Life (124 page)

I wanno acknowledge the local and state employees (especially cabinet members and aides) whom I’ve been honored to work with for

two decades. I’ve seen many true servants’ hearts and Commonsense Conservative minds in the arena, from the City and Borough, to the Legislature, to statesmen in the Washington delegation. Thanks Kate, Sharon, Tara, Britta, Abbey, Janice, Kari, Carol, and everyone else serving for the tight reasons. Huge kudos to the governor’s campaign volunteets, too: Scott Heyworth and the Bensons, Seibels, Mary, Tara, Paulette, and everyone else who loves Alaska so much-I can’t wait ‘til we assemble again!

I note with sincere admiration the many good people who built the road we travel: the mom-and-pop businesses all across the country, like Big Dipper Construction and Finishing Touch, Adee Dodge and The Carpetmen, and so many other industrious ventures. You are the backbone of our economy, so may your efforcs to build and create and invent and produce be rewarded. To the people of faith who sacrificially give their time, even their lives, to the mission faith. May your prayers for this world

be answered! And to the prayer warriots from Wasilla to Washington to Winnipeg, it is your intercession that allows me ro stand today. Your letrers of support, rhe Words you share, the prayers I sense … I fail in articulating how much I appreciate you, but I trust you’ll have a double portion of blessings returned to you. Thank you Valley Pastors Prayer Network, Karl, and other supporters across the country. I appreciate everyone who values good customer service, so a special shout-oue to airline flight attendants (you know why). The same goes for law enforcement officials who take pride in serving
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Acknowledgments

the public with integtity. And to all the good ones we met on the VP campaign ttail, especially the Secret Service, motorcade, and local public safety women and men all actoss the USA-my kids idolized you!

Speaking of the campaign, I thank Senaror John McCain for his valor. He represented real change, pride in Country, and he lived out his belief in the power and ability of women.
It
was also an honor to meet John’s many friends on the trail, including state party volunteers. I urge you to stand sttong and get ready for formidable competition in upcoming races at all levels, There’s not room to list everyone here in acknowledgment of those who’ve touched my life, so please accept my apology, and
I’ll
finish with a few words of admiration for some special people: Special Needs community and your families-you are my most favorite people, ever. You are lucky because God touched each one of you in unique ways. Don’t let anyone make you feel small. You are beautiful and worthy of all that is good, and I loved meeting all of And to everyone else we met on the campaign trail-all you

“ordinary” Americans ·who seek freedom and value our Constitution-you are the reason John McCain and I put it all out there, and still do. It was the honor of a lifetime to try to win for you.
Thank you, America, for your involvement and enthusiasm, and
for wearing your patriotism proudly on your sleeve, To everyone who helped with the events, from photographer Shealah Craighead to the hotel staffs, drivers, fund-raisers, musicians, technicians, and everyone else who put Country First, my family and I will cherish the memories we have of you forever. The messages of support we’ve received since coming off that trail have been overwhelmingly encouraging. Thanks for your patience as we endeavor to respond appropriately to you because we appreciate
every single communication!

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Acknowledgments

Thanks, too, to those who deserve credit for inspiring the fight to continue: Valley Republican Women’s Club (rhanks for helping with the mail!) and other state women’s groups; and Fred Malek, Conservatives 4 Palin, Team Sarah, Vets 4 Sarah, 2012

Draft Sarah Committee, Sarah Palin Radio, SarahPAC … you are proving that we can make a difference in the world-and we don’t need a title to do it.

To some media professionals whom I admire because you don’t let anyone tell you to sit down and shut up, please keep making the idiots’ heads spin. Thanks for not taking our Freedom of the Press for granted, you bold and patriotic, fair and balanced media folks. Keep calling it like you see it: Amanda, Andrew, Ann, Bill(s), Bob, Cal, Dennis, Dick, Eddie, Fred, Glenn, Greta, Hugh, Joey, John, Jonah, Larry, Laura, Lou, Mark, Mary, Michael, Michelle, R.A.M., Rich, Rush, S.E., Sean, Tammy, Walter … and there are more. I join you ill standing up for what is right. Remember that as your voice is heard and your spine is stiffened, the spines of others are stiffened, too.

And finally, thanks to Todd, Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper, Trig, and Tripp. You are my reason for living. I breathe you. If everything else were to all go away, as long as I have you, then life is good. I look at you and see miracles in all your lives and know there is a God.

And I
do
know there is a God. My life is in His hands. I en
courage readers to do what I did many years ago, invite Him in to
rake over … then see what He will do and how He get you

through. Test Him on this. You’ll see there’s no such thing as a coincidence. I’m thankful for His majestic creation called Alaska, which has given me my home, and for His touch on America, which has given us all so many opportunities. By His grace, an American life is an extraordinary life.

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ABOVE: In 1964 Mom bundled me up with

a cloth diaper for a scarf to watch the Fourth

of July races in windy Skagway.
Courtesy

Chuck Heath

LEFT: We vi ited our grandparents for a

week or so every few years. I was three

years old in this picture, taken in Richland,

Washington. We stayed longer that summer

because Dad had a severe case of hepatitis and

was bedridden.
Courtesy Chuck Heath

Grandma Heath visited us in Skagway and helped pull the wagon of groceries and Baby Molly down the gravel road to our house on a sunny summer day. The wooden sidewalks are the scene of one of my earliest memories.
Courtesy Chuck Heath

TOP: On a Sunday-afternoon drive