It is six years since the election of 2008. John McCain has retired from the Senate and spends most of his days contemplating who the strange lady sleeping next to him is. She calls herself ‘Cindy’. Is she my mother? Sarah and Todd’s marriage could not stand the pressure of her failed bid to become president of the Wasilla PTA and they are now divorced.
Sarah obtained a restraining order against Todd after she discovered his secret porn stash of alternative lifestyle ‘fly fishing’ photos and pictures of men paddling without a canoe.
Todd was very upset with Sarah. The restraining order meant that Todd could not take his son, Trig, on his first deer hunt. Trig was already six-years-old—and should, by Alaskan Republican standards—have already have killed his first deer. Since this had not yet happened, Todd was concerned that this would forever emotionally scar his son. Todd feared that his son would never be initiated into the folds of the hunter-sportsbar tribe.
So, at considerable personal pain, despite the very hard feelings he had for Sarah, he wrote a letter to his ex-wife, explaining to her how important this hunt was to Trig’s development and instructing her how she could introduce Trig to his first deer hunt.
Here then, is that letter.
Dear Sarah,
I hope that this letter finds you and Trig well. Since I am unable to be there as promised, I am relying on you —and Trig is relying on you —to fulfill the promise I made to our son regarding his first deer hunt. The first day of deer hunting season is fast approaching
and I do not want to carry the thought in my heart that our son will miss it. Please do not disappoint our son—soon to be your little man. I know that you have never really participated in hunting of any kind and do not know how to use a gun; therefore, I have listed below what you need to do and pray that you follow my advice.
On the first day of deer hunting season it will be cold, so dress accordingly. Remember that fur coat the GOP bought you in 2008? Wear it hunting!!! That should keep you comfy. And don’t forget a hat, either. That one you wear every Christmas, the one with the huge, fuzzy antlers — you always looked so cute in that — will work just fine, I hope.
Load a gun for Trig before you get to the spot for hunting, it’s too much trouble to do that after you’re there, and let him carry it in his lap while you drive, so he gets use to it on the way. And take the old pick-up truck with the really bad shocks.
Drive to the woods, out off highway 12, but not until five or six o’clock in the afternoon. Here’s a secret to finding an area with plenty of deer: pull over wherever you see at least three trucks along the side of the road. I remember how you use to continually say over and over again, “one shouldn’t choose to eat at a restaurant with an empty parking lot”. Well, the same is also true for deer hunting—you shouldn’t go hunting in an area where there aren’t already many, many eager hunters —that means deer are close by.
Deer are frightened away by the human female scent, while bears—especially grizzlies (and I’m told there are some in those woods) are attracted by the human female scent, so spread some maple syrup across your cheeks and neck. This not only will mask your scent, but it is the best bear repellent I know of.
As Trig’s mentor, you must lead the way. Don’t forget your coat and hat! And stay low. Have Trig climb a tree about 100 yards away so he can better spot any deer. Once you have found a thickly wooded spot far into the forest, find some bushes to crawl into and wait there. Occasionally it is helpful to make a ‘deer-call’ by creating some snorting noises with your throat.
Good luck and good hunting—I hope.
Best regards,
Todd
.