Update: What I thought was PTSD was actually CPTSD and chronic lead poisoning. PTSD sucks. No doubt about it. I can go from doing fine to wanting to die in a New York minute. Do I act on it? No, but I definitely want to escape the pain every once in awhile. Some days I … More PTSD and Military Injustice: Breaking the Silence
At thirty, you think you still have time. Time to ask more questions. Time to sit a little longer at the kitchen table. Time to notice the small things—like how your father always paused before answering, not because he didn’t know what to say, but because he wanted to say it right. You don’t expect … More Navigating Life After Losing a Parent: Jennifer, Lee, Onyx and Sarge Visit William R. Stowell’s Gravesite on the 12th Anniversary of Death (September 14, 2013)
There are dates that don’t pass quietly. They return each year with weight—carrying memory, love, and a kind of ache that never really leaves. My dad’s birthday is one of those days. In 2013, Lee and I chose not to spend it in silence or avoidance. Instead, we drove to Sunday River Ski Resort in … More The Power of Shared Memories: Jennifer and Lee Celebrate William R. Stowell’s Birthday at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine (March 21, 2013)
Deadly Force: Police and the Mentally Ill:Part 1: When police pull the trigger in crisis, the mentally ill often are the ones being shotPart 2: Across nation, unsettling acceptance when mentally ill in crisis are killedPart 3: Maine police make spotty use of crisis trainingPart 4: Families mostly powerless when mentally ill adult resists help … More The Portland Press Herald Reported the Series “Deadly Force: Police and the Mentally Ill” (2012)
Veteran’s Day Ceremony 2012Sponsored by Maine Veterans Art ProjectVA Maine Healthcare System, Augusta, Maine November 9, 2012 I am struggling to find a place to begin. Do I tell you all the nitty gritty details to persuade you that I am telling you the truth, do I just simply state what happened and assume that … More ‘A Place to Begin’ by Jennifer Norris, USAF Retired [Video] (2012)
We observed what appeared to be unregulated power, police departments are part of the political machine, and we have no say in how we are ruled. FIRST VERSION OF LETTER TO COP BLOCK: This is a guest submitted post describing their experience with the local police DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SIGNS ARE A JOKE! First I want to start … More Cop Block: Finance Committee Member Targeted for Political Purposes By Local PD During a Mental Health Crisis Turned “Domestic Disturbance” (2011)
Workplace Betrayal & Ostracism: A Letter to the Commander Explaining How Toxic Military Leaders Impact PTSD (August 4, 2010) Col Juliet, Lee and I will be home on Thursday. I’d like the weekend to rest up and gather my thoughts before we speak. Let me know what works for you the week of August 8th. I’ve … More Formal Letter to 101st Air Refueling Wing Leadership After Psychological Collapse on Active Duty Orders & Medical Retirement (July 29, 2011)
Editor’s Note: After looking at this picture and remembering why we were having such a hard time in the 2010-2011 timeframe, it brought back a lot of emotions for us. We are sad and angry about our circumstances in Maine… but also thankful for our love for one another. Our love and our love alone … More After a Lifetime of Silently Absorbing Abuse, Injustice, and Institutional Betrayal… Jennifer Writes A Valentine’s Day Poem for Lee to Help Lift His Spirits (2011)
Formal Letter to 101st Air Refueling Wing Leadership After Psychological Collapse on Active Duty Orders & Medical Retirement (July 29, 2011) Brief Synopsis: After getting caught up on some e-mails during the medical retirement process between 2009-2012, Lee and I would come to realize that our Commander was a real pr*ck. He didn’t give two f*cks … More Workplace Betrayal & Ostracism: A Letter to the Commander Explaining How Toxic Military Leaders Negatively Impact CPTSD (2010)
The Most Dangerous Moments of Our Life: Targeted by an Abusive Cop with Impunity Who Shot A Suicidal Woman During a Mental Health Crisis Four Years Later (2024) The timing of this letter and two more letters all happened to coincide with Jennifer being falsely charged with a felony alcohol charge in March 2010 while sitting … More Finance Committee Member Receives First Menacing Anonymous Letter From Bad Actors in Rumford, Maine (2010)
Jennifer and Lee 