10. The Supreme Importance of The Seven Ps 🙌🏾
Prior Preparation and Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance (and Panic).
One of the upsides of being married to a retired policeman (who still carries bullet fragments in his head) is that he is the epitome of calm no matter what is happening. Like a centrifugal force, he draws us in for hugs, jokes, tender moments as we swirl around him, getting instructions, tasks, reassurance. With three children aged 16, 15 & 12, we had made the decision a long time ago that our long, linear, north facing house was not to be defended, being right on the edge of town next to the squillions of drought affected bush that is Croajingalong National Park. So when the call came to evacuate internally (trust me, it’s not what you think!…but it’s just as unpleasant), the camper trailer was already restocked and hitched up to my car, the tandem trailer with precious photos, paperwork and supplies to his. I felt no emotion as we left, instead a flood of hot, burning impatience that it would hurry up and happen so we could start dealing with the inevitable.