The Worst Day of My Life, So Far: My Mother, Alzheimer'S, and Me

In always seeking to emulate her mother, Velma, Jeanne's intelligence and wisecrack humor have gone unnoticed, resting in the shadow of her mother's undeniable Southern charm and beauty. Witnessing her mother's deterioration first-hand, Jeanne realizes that heroes aren't born; they are made. Always an expert at analyzing others while neglecting herself, a series of traumas including her failed marriage and almost getting raped force her to reflect on her motives and goals in life; learning to stop pointing the finger at others, to free herself from worry, and to give herself more credit.

The Worst Day of My Life, So Far is in one sense a timeless story of a woman's journey toward self-discovery and confidence. At the same time, through the eyes of the tragedy of Alzheimer's, it is a timely legend, one that shows us that there are no dead ends in life, only long roads, often without the end in sight. Fairy tale is shattered and reality becomes an often overdue slap in the face. Through Jeanne, Harper helps us come to terms with thoughts and worries we may

have, but are too proud to admit. We're reminded that although we're conscious of our daily routine, we may be out of touch with reality, causing us question the truth, if there is one at all.