Every year 9/11 rolls around and I think it’s gonna be just like any other day. And every year it is not. Every year I am reminded of where I was when the towers in New York became targets and I am left with the same raw feeling I felt that day. This day changed … More A 9/11 Tribute to Our Soldiers
This past week my husband (also a veteran) and I attended the VA New England Summer Sports Clinic hosted by the VA Boston Healthcare System. The event was held in Providence, Rhode Island. Although we were not sure what to expect, we were willing to give it a try because the event featured sporting activities. … More VA New England Summer Sports Clinic 2016, Providence, Rhode Island
My husband and I participated in our second 5K this spring. The first one we did was last fall for the Dempsey Center who raises awareness and funds for those who have cancer, a deadly disease most of us have come in contact with at some point in our lives. I chose to do the Dempsey … More Teal Ribbon 5K for Sexual Assault Awareness Month (2016)
After Soldier Ride Tampa, I attended a three day physical health and wellness expo with Wounded Warrior Project in Massachusetts. On the second day we went for a bicycle ride with Urban AdvenTours in Boston. After just returning home from a cycle ride, I was excited that we were going for another one. I fell … More Our Unique Boston Cycling Experience with Urban AdvenTours (2016)
Soldier Ride Tampa (Florida) was incredible. I had a lot of anxiety about signing up for this program but thanks to some coaxing from some female veteran friends I got up the courage to give it a try. Initially I had planned to go to Soldier Ride with a female veteran friend from every branch of service … More Soldier Ride Tampa Inspired Me to Start Cycling for Physical & Mental Health (2016)
I’ve done a lot of firsts this past couple years and I added one more to the list this past week. I went sailing for the first time ever and even took the helm of the sailboat for quite a ways. What went from being completely uninterested in pursuing this particular hobby in the future … More Sailboating in Tampa Bay with the St. Petersburg Sailing Center in Florida (2016)
The first time I ever heard the term military sexual trauma was when I was living with my future husband in Olympia, Washington in 2006. He was active duty Air Force stationed at McChord Air Force Base. I was a traditional National Guardsman. I had just transferred from a combat communications squadron in 2005 to a … More Paying It Forward Thanks to Army Specialist Suzanne Swift (2016)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: a condition of persistent mental and emotional stress occurring as a result of injury or severe psychological shock, typically involving disturbance of sleep and constant vivid recall of the experience, with dulled responses to others and to the outside world. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has baffled my mind since first … More Coping with Complex PTSD: A Veteran’s Perspective (2016)
“Your house should be a place where we feel most comfortable, but to someone who wants to pose a threat, there’s no better way to get inside your life than to get inside your home. Let the wrong person in and it could be the last mistake you ever make.” ~A Stranger in My Home … More Investigation Reveals Retired Marine Daniel Vandecar Not Involved in Schutzler Homicide (2016)
My friend April and I decided to hike the Roost Trail in Evans Notch on December 7th. It was a warm, sunny day to get outdoors and take in the fresh air, beauty, and silence one experiences when hiking. We decided to hike the Evans Notch trail thinking that the winter gate to the White … More The Roost Trail, Evans Notch, White Mountain National Forest, Maine (2015)
Jennifer and Lee 