Not Afraid of Life (14 page)
Read Not Afraid of Life Online
Authors: Bristol Palin
After the speech, Mom couldn’t walk two feet without people stopping her. People crowded around her like she was a rock star, and she took it all in stride. As I stood back and watched people swarm her, I remember thinking,
From now on, things are different.
I also took a moment to remember the sometimes challenging path she took to get to that spot—how she ran for city council, for mayor, for lieutenant governor (and lost!), and then governor.
It just seemed natural, and humbling, to see that God had taken us down that path as a family. And we were right where we needed to be.
By her side.
B
y the time the convention was over, it was obvious that something had changed. The beleaguered McCain campaign, which had fought so hard to get to that point, had been revitalized; Republicans all over America were chattering about this newcomer; and our family had come together in a beautiful moment of honor and dignity.
I was the first granddaughter born on my mom’s
side, so all of the aunts were thrilled to have a chance to spoil me. I was born
on October 18, 1990, at Valley Hospital in Palmer, Alaska.
My middle name is Sheeran, after my maternal
grandmother’s father, Grandpa Sheeran.
This is the first surprise Aunt Molly gave
me—a dog I named Indy. There would later be two other dogs named Indy!
When I was three and Track was five, we helped
my grandpa work on his antler collection—it is now three times the size.
Holding my baby cousin Karcher in 1995.
Willow (two), Lauden (three), and me (six) at
the Bruces’. My parents had just given us “pleather pants,” and I wore mine
every day.
With Willow on a family vacation in Hawaii.
The sunshine was a welcome break from Alaska’s weather.
Aunt Molly enjoyed dressing Lauden and me in
matching outfits.
Willow (two), Lauden (three), and me (six) at
the Bruces’.
I was beyond excited the day Piper was born.
I was thrilled to have a real-life baby to
play with instead of playing pretend with my dolls. She definitely got a lot of
attention!
