Posted on 01/08/2009 9:10:03 AM PST by curth
If a return address of Idaho's Friendliest City had not caught the eye of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's friend, a Bonners Ferry woman's letter to the former Republican Party's 2008 vice-presidential candidate might have been tossed in a stack of mail well-wishers have been sending Palin for months.
Instead, Val Harrington - who owns South Hill Second Hand - received a letter she says was one of the most memorable correspondences of her life from Gov. Palin, a virtual unknown politician who became something of a household word when she grabbed the national spotlight as Sen. John McCain's running mate before losing the 2008 presidential election in November.
"I'm a pretty good judge of character, and I wanted Gov. Palin to know woman-to-woman how much people appreciated her and that we are praying for her," said Harrington. "When I looked closely at her while she was campaigning and speaking to crowds around the country, I found her incredibly compelling and refreshing compared to other politicians who promised this and that. She was real."
Harrington's short, three-paragraph letter - which she wrote several days after the election - didn't have Palin's street address or even the correct zip code.
"I figured if I put 'Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, Wasilla, AK' on the envelope, it would probably find its way to her one way or another," said Harrington. "I ended up putting an Anchorage, Alaska zip code on it because I couldn't find one for Wasilla."
The letter not only found its way to Palin; Harrington was stunned when she received a letter on Nov. 24, about two weeks after she wrote the governor.
"I was shocked," she said. "I really didn't expect to hear back from her. But it was exciting. She actually took the time to answer me."
Harrington credits her Bonners Ferry, Idaho return address on the envelope for possibly prompting a reply. She said a friend of Palin - whose husband was born and raised in Bonners Ferry - noticed Harrington's address while helping the governor with her mail.
"She was born in Sandpoint and her husband is Adrian Lane, whose parents, Ray and Ann Lane, were also from Bonners," said Harrington. "When she saw my return address, I think she felt she just had to open it. North Idaho definitely has strong roots with Gov. Palin."
Palin also attended North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, where she spent two semesters in 1983 and 1984 before transferring to the University of Idaho in Moscow.
"This is one letter I'll surely keep forever," said Harrington. "It means a lot to me. I was impressed with how Gov. Palin was trying to make a definite change and improve things instead of just mouthing the words. I'd love to see her run again."
Bonners?
An historic name in Idaho. Look it up if you're interested.
It’s things like this (among others) that keeps the media in villification mode against Sarah Palin.
They saw the crowds and energy she created wherever and whenever she spoke. They KNOW that she has an immediate connection with those she meets and vice versa. A lot of people, particularly working women and mothers, relate to her life experiences.
They know she’ll be around in 2012 and it scares them.
...that's so true...esp. after OBambi's speech today and his "promises"
Its things like this (among others) that keeps the media in villification mode against Sarah Palin.
They saw the crowds and energy she created wherever and whenever she spoke. They KNOW that she has an immediate connection with those she meets and vice versa. A lot of people, particularly working women and mothers, relate to her life experiences.
They know shell be around in 2012 and it scares them.***
SO TRUE! Let’s help put Gov. Sarah Palin in the White House in 2012.
Sign up for newsletters on Sarah at
www.2012DraftSarahCommittee.com
N. Idaho is definitely God’s country. Most beautiful place that I ever lived. Too bad I couldn’t afford to stay there.
Gov. Palin is one class act.
I did a job up in Bonner’s Ferry and was just driving into town while Gore was giving his concession speech - what a happy day!
A few days latter I was in the cafe having breakfast and looking at the local paper. I forget what the numbers were - but for that entire county the vote was something like 16,382 (R), 2 (D), and 128 (I)!
I’m not sure about the others- but I do recall it was 2 votes for Gore as I pictured a lonely aging hippie couple sitting at their kitchen table fighting against the world! It sure felt good to sit in a cafe with like-minded folks!
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