Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson: Overview
Have you ever wondered what it's like to grow up with a taxidermist father? Or how someone can find humor in the most awkward and anxiety-inducing situations?
In Let's Pretend This Never Happened, Jenny Lawson takes you on a wild ride through her unconventional life. You'll discover how her unique upbringing shaped her worldview and how she copes with anxiety through humor and wit.
Get ready to laugh, cringe, and maybe even tear up a bit as we dive into Jenny Lawson's Let's Pretend This Never Happened.
Overview of Let's Pretend This Never Happened
Jenny Lawson, better known as "The Bloggess," invites readers into the comical absurdity of her life in Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. In this memoir, she shares tales from her unconventional upbringing on a rural Texas property overrun with taxidermied animal specimens thanks to her father's small business. She explores the complexities of her struggles with mental illness, the unique dynamic she shared with her husband Victor, and the hilarious misadventures that occurred during her book tour.
Lawson's witty, sarcastic voice shines through her vivid recounting of bizarre encounters and mishaps. Unapologetic about her quirks, she finds humor in even the most awkward experiences—whether navigating social anxiety, parenting her daughter Hailey, or facing the unexpected barrage of gifts from eccentric fans on the road.
Growing Up With a Taxidermist Father
Jenny Lawson's childhood was anything but ordinary. Her father, a taxidermist by trade, ran his business from their home, creating an environment that was as fascinating as it was unconventional. Imagine coming home from school to find a new wild animal on your dinner table or waking up to the sound of your father excitedly showing off his latest acquisition. That was Jenny's reality.
Her father's eccentric behavior was a constant source of surprise and bewilderment. He'd bring home live snakes without warning, use deer scent as aftershave, and even toss a bobcat at Jenny's future husband, Victor, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. One particularly memorable incident involved a large, venomous snake that her father had chilled and brought home, much to the family's shock. These experiences, while unusual, became the norm in the Lawson household.
But it wasn't just about taxidermy. Jenny's childhood was filled with unique experiences that most people only read about in storybooks. She and her family raised raccoons as pets, participated in armadillo races (her father even won a distinctive ring in one such competition), and dealt with what her father affectionately called a "jumbo quail" - which was actually an aggressive turkey. These formative years, surrounded by both live birds and duckling figurines, laid the foundation for Jenny's distinctive worldview and her ability to find humor in the absurd.
Navigating Social Norms and Peer Relationships
Growing up in such an unconventional environment, Jenny often struggled to understand and fit in with societal norms. From her early days of trading a cat for fifty cents to befriending turkeys at school, she found it challenging to align with what society expected of her. This disconnect led to feelings of embarrassment and discomfort, especially when her parents would show up at school events with questionable animal byproducts.
Jenny's unique background made it difficult for her to relate to her peers. After all, how many kids can say they had malfunctioning household birds or parents who brought strange animal parts to school? These experiences, while isolating at the time, ultimately shaped Jenny's distinctive storytelling style and perspective on life.
Despite the challenges, Jenny's unconventional upbringing provided her with a wealth of material for her writing. She narrates her life story with a mix of wit and detachment, demonstrating that her unique viewpoint stems directly from the unusual and untamed experiences of her early years. This ability to find humor in the strangest situations would become a hallmark of her writing and a coping mechanism for dealing with life's challenges.
Battling Anxiety and Mental Health Challenges
Jenny's struggles with mental health, particularly her generalized anxiety disorder, have been a significant part of her life story. From a young age, she experienced intense discomfort in social situations, which wasn't limited to specific events but permeated all aspects of her life. This anxiety manifested in various ways, from hyperventilating as a child to seeking refuge in bathrooms during adult gatherings to avoid interactions.
Her anxiety was so severe that from the age of seven, she would often experience such intense nervousness that it led to severe breathlessness and overwhelming nausea, sometimes causing her to vomit before she could even leave the house. These physical manifestations of her anxiety made everyday activities, like going to school or attending social events, incredibly challenging.
To cope with her mental health difficulties, Jenny developed a range of strategies. She often uses humor to express her worries to those around her, finding that laughter can be a powerful tool in managing anxiety. When things become overwhelming, she's not afraid to seek solitude in a quiet place, even if it means quietly retreating to a bathroom during a social gathering or abruptly leaving a dinner with friends. Medication, such as Xanax, also plays a role in her anxiety management.
Coping Mechanisms and Treatment
Jenny's anxiety often compels her to withdraw or make comments that disrupt the flow of social interactions. Even electronic communication isn't immune to her anxieties - she mentions spending hours rewriting emails to ensure they convey the right tone and message. Despite these challenges, she's gradually learned to confront her fears, connecting with like-minded individuals online and trusting friends enough to attend retreats and social events.
Her mental health issues don't just affect her social life; they also impact her personal and professional activities. Jenny often experiences intrusive thoughts and has a tendency to catastrophize, imagining worst-case scenarios in even the most mundane situations. She vividly describes how her mind can be overwhelmed by negative possibilities, distracting thoughts, and fears, sometimes leading her to envision scenarios as outlandish as her deceased dog coming back to life, like something out of a Stephen King novel.
Despite these challenges, Jenny has shown remarkable determination in seeking treatment and assistance. She's faced intense anxiety, professional setbacks, and even periods of suicidal thoughts due to mishandling of a trauma-induced condition. However, she persistently seeks medical advice, which led to a correct diagnosis of an autoimmune disease and subsequent treatment. Her commitment to improving her mental health is evident in her willingness to try a range of therapies, including low-dose aspirin, self-injections, and even acupuncture, demonstrating her unwavering quest for relief.
Finding Humor in the Absurd
One of Jenny's most remarkable traits is her ability to find humor in even the most absurd and extraordinary situations. Her life seems to be a magnet for events that are both hilarious and unusual, and she has a knack for sharing these experiences in a way that highlights their inherent comedy.
Take, for example, the story of Stanley, the "chatty enchanted rodent." This peculiar gift from her father - an inanimate squirrel that he operated - becomes a source of both nostalgia and humor in Jenny's retelling. She manages to capture both the innocence of childhood and the absurdity of the situation, turning what could be a strange or even unsettling memory into a funny anecdote.
Jenny's interactions with animals often provide fodder for her humorous tales. From encounters with protective mother hens to odd worries about her dogs returning from the dead, she seems to attract animal-related mishaps and misadventures. Her father's menagerie of taxidermied creatures and live animals, including large wildcats and peculiar squirrels, feature prominently in these stories, adding an extra layer of absurdity to her already unconventional life.
Embracing Quirks and Self-deprecating Humor
What sets Jenny apart is her willingness to embrace her unique traits and find the comedy in her own actions. She often uses self-deprecating humor and sarcasm in her storytelling, poking fun at herself and her unusual experiences. Whether it's her childhood encounters with amateur squirrel ventriloquists or her unique approach to managing collections of preserved wildlife specimens, Jenny isn't afraid to laugh at herself.
This ability to find humor in stressful or awkward circumstances serves as a coping mechanism for Jenny. She demonstrates an exceptional talent for discovering the silver lining in traumatic or embarrassing experiences. Whether it's the loud commotion of a childhood game gone wrong or accidents involving frozen birds, Jenny shows that recognizing the humor in one's own mistakes can be a lifesaver in the sea of life's absurdities.
Marriage and Family Life
Jenny's relationship with her husband, Victor, provides a fascinating contrast to her own personality and experiences. Where Jenny is prone to anxiety and flights of fancy, Victor offers a calm, stabilizing presence. Their relationship began with a chance encounter at a bookstore and developed through Jenny's playful rejections and Victor's persistent attempts to connect, setting the tone for their unique dynamic.
The contrast between Jenny and Victor is evident in many aspects of their life together. For instance, Victor's methodical approach to easing his wife's anxiety stands in stark contrast to Jenny's whimsical preference for navigating by landmarks instead of using GPS. These differences often lead to amusing situations, but they also highlight the strength of their relationship and their ability to complement each other.
Navigating Marital Challenges
Like any marriage, Jenny and Victor's relationship isn't without its challenges. Their different backgrounds and personalities sometimes lead to conflicts, but they manage to navigate these with humor and understanding. Whether it's small domestic disagreements over household chores (communicated through playful notes) or larger stresses around moving and adapting to new environments, both Jenny and Victor show a willingness to work through their differences.
Their exchanges, while sometimes heated, are often infused with humor. Each scenario reveals their commitment to maintaining unity despite their diverse opinions, whether it's about cleanliness standards or handling unexpected situations. Through it all, Jenny's wit and Victor's patience shine through, demonstrating how their differences ultimately strengthen their bond.
Parenthood and Creating a Unique Childhood
When it comes to parenting her daughter Hailey, Jenny finds herself torn between wanting to provide a more conventional upbringing and the desire to share the enriching aspects of her own rural childhood. Despite her history of wild and remarkable escapades, she initially attempts to shield Hailey from such experiences, striving to create a life marked by traditional elegance, complete with ballet lessons and private schooling.
However, Jenny soon realizes that completely shielding Hailey from the unconventional aspects of life might not be the best approach. She wrestles with the challenge of protecting her daughter while also wanting to introduce her to the character-building experiences of rural life. This internal conflict leads to some amusing and touching moments as Jenny tries to strike the right balance.
The Joys and Challenges of Motherhood
Jenny's journey into motherhood is filled with a spectrum of emotions. She vividly recalls the awe-inspiring moment of holding her newborn daughter for the first time, as well as the challenging task of guiding Hailey through the grief associated with losing a beloved pet. Parenthood for Jenny involves navigating difficult moments, such as those experienced at a local swimming facility, while striving to establish a balance that defines a fulfilling and meaningful childhood.
Despite the challenges, Jenny finds immense joy in watching Hailey grow and develop her own personality. She fondly recalls watching Hailey dance in a meadow, acknowledging the myriad emotions that accompany raising a child. From the rewarding smiles to the inherent challenges, Jenny embraces all aspects of motherhood with her characteristic humor and honesty.
Book Tour Adventures
Jenny's book tour for Let's Pretend This Never Happened was a whirlwind of experiences, both challenging and humorous. The intense schedule and weird incidents often left her feeling stressed and disconnected from reality. She found herself wrestling with growing anxieties, even drawing parallels to another author's mental breakdown, and feeling apprehensive about her upcoming trip to a remote retreat in California's wine country.
To manage her nervousness, Jenny employed a variety of strategies. She humorously suggested starting in a setting notorious for substance misuse, finding it less intimidating than more conventional venues. She collaborated with another blogger to metaphorically embrace a 'contrarian role' during meetings, and used prescribed medication (specifically a type of beta blocker) to manage her anxiety. She even sought advice from her therapist and wore a top with a preemptive apology, anticipating potential disappointments.
Humorous Encounters With Fans
Despite her anxieties, Jenny's book tour was filled with memorable and often hilarious moments. She recounts a mix-up regarding her and Tom Brokaw's tenure after a chance encounter with Dan Rather, which even led to her signing a chicken. At one book signing event, the crowd was taken aback when someone offered a live cat as a present.
Jenny's fans often surprised her with unusual gifts and requests. She received everything from a squirrel dressed as a cowboy to requests to sign various body parts, stuffed animals, and household items. These interactions highlight the unique bond Jenny shares with her audience, characterized by a shared appreciation for humor and wit.
The Alligator Incident
One of the most memorable incidents from the book tour involved an attempt to smuggle an alligator onto an airplane. Jenny found herself relieved to pass through security next to the alligator while her husband Victor was subjected to an exhaustive search. The scene became particularly amusing when the woman placed the alligator on her tray, interacting with it playfully as though it were just another passenger.
This incident perfectly encapsulates the surreal nature of Jenny's experiences during the book tour. It demonstrates her ability to find humor in unexpected situations and highlights the often bizarre nature of her interactions with fans and the public.
Throughout the book tour, Jenny experienced a range of emotions, comic moments, and unexpected events. These experiences underscored her adaptability and the deep connection she shares with her audience. Despite the challenges, Jenny's wit and humor shone through, turning even the most stressful situations into entertaining anecdotes for her readers.