What We Forgot to Mention from the Esquire Interview

I just finished reading Gov. Palin's interview with Esquire, and I'm actually very sorry that we chose to focus on the more superficial quotes about her looks. She said some much more interesting things.

This quote in particular stood out for me:

A courageous person is anyone who loses a child and can still get out of bed in the morning.

Our very own VO has reminded us recently that Gov. Palin's son is in a dangerous war zone. She has said repeatedly that one fifth of her heart is over there with him. I think this quote bears that out and shows just how much her children mean to her.

Something else in this interview made me recall Gov. Palin's answer to a question from her interview with People Magazine during the election. They asked her if she could "go home again and just be an Alaskan" if she lost.

Palin answered:

I can always go home again and just be Mom and be perfectly happy and fulfilled with the blessings that God has given us. And with a great marriage and great parents and siblings and children, I could today go home and just be Mom.

She described to Esquire what she likes to do to wind down, and it's interesting that it revolves around her children:

After a long day, if the weather's good, I like to take a long, hot run to unwind. Otherwise, lately, I take a bath with Trig, and I answer e-mails, and then we all fall asleep in my big bed while we listen to Piper read her Junie B. Jones books out loud. She's learning to read and she'll read for hours on end. It's idyllic. It's amazing.

Cindy Adams noted during the election that Palin is happiest when her children are near her. The New York Times noted that Palin almost seamlessly fuses motherhood with the rest of her life:

Many high-powered parents separate work and children; Ms. Palin takes a wholly different approach. “She’s the mom and the governor, and they’re not separate,” Ms. Cole said. Around the governor’s offices, it was not uncommon to get on the elevator and discover Piper, smothering her puppy with kisses.

“She’ll be with Piper or Trig, then she’s got a press conference or negotiations about the natural gas pipeline or a bill to sign, and it’s all business,” Ms. Burney, who works across the hall, said. “She just says, ‘Mommy’s got to do this press conference.’”

She also spoke of her faith in the Esquire interview. She has a simple and very personal faith. It's what I would call a well grounded one:

I know He hears me when I just call out to Him, which I do a lot. Oh, yes, I pray. I talk to God every day. I've put my life, so I put my day, into God's hands, and I just ask for guidance and wisdom and grace to get through one situation after another.

There is much more to Sarah Palin than just a pretty face. But you all knew that already.