Disaster Preparedness: A Memoir

Aperceptive,wittymemoiraboutthetransformativehumiliationsofchildhood-andadulthood-fromaunique,already-belovedvoice.WhenHeatherHavrileskywasakidduringthe'70s,harrowingdisasterfilmsdominatedeverymoviescreenwithearthquakesthatdestroyedhugecities,airplanesthatplummetedtowardsthegroundandgiantsharksthatrippedteenagerstoshreds.Betweenherparents'dramaticclashesandheroldersiblings'hazing,Heather'shomelifesometimesmirroredthechaosonscreen.Athoughtful,funnymemoiraboutsurvivingtherealandimaginedperilsofchildhoodandearlyadulthood,DisasterPreparednesschartshowthemosthumiliatingandpainfulmomentsinHavrilesky'spastforcedhertodevelopawiderangeofdefensemechanisms,someadaptive,somepiteouslyill-suitedtomodernlife.Fromprematureboxinglessonstothecompetitivegroomingofcheerleadingcamp,fromherparents'divorcetoherfather'ssuddendeath,Havrileskyexploresapathfrominnocenceandoptimismtoself-protectionandcaution,bravelyreexaminingtheinjuriesthatshapedher,thelessonsthatsunkinalongtheway,andtheinsightsthatcarriedherthrough.Bylayingbareherbumpsandbruises,Havrileskyoffershopethatwecanfindafrazzledandunruly,desperateandwistful,restlessandfunnyandfrayed-at-the-edgeswayofstaringdisasterintheface,andevenrisingtomeetitheadon.Byturnsoffbeat,sophisticated,uproariousandwise,DisasterPreparednessisaroadmaptothepersonaldisastersweallfacefromanirresistiblevoicethatgetsstraighttotheunexpectedgraceattheheartofeverycalamity.