- Lewis Nordan grew up in 1940s Mississippi without his biological father, who died when Nordan was young. He was raised by his alcoholic, absent stepfather. - As a child, Nordan coped with his father's death and unstable home life through fantasies and comic books. He struggled with curiosity, alcoholism, and mental health issues as an adult. - Nordan had a turbulent personal life including two marriages plagued by adultery and the loss of two children. He eventually found success as a writer later in life, publishing memoirs about his upbringing.

1. Boy With Loaded Gun:
Insight Into the World of Lewis Nordan.
Anna Howard
ATHENS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Spring 2015
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

2. By With Loaded Gun Synopsis:
• Nordan grew up in Itta Bena, Mississippi in the 1940’s.
• Lost his father at the age of 18 months.
• His mother re-married a shy man who was an alcoholic.
• Nordan lived inside of his comic books. Often fantasizing about
how different his life could be.

3. Boy With Loaded Gun Synopsis Cont.
• Nordan grew up to be an
alcoholic writer.
• He committed adultery in
both of his marriages.
• He lost 2 children.
• One to suicide, one to
miscarriage.

4. “My dad died.. Now what?”
Children and coping with the death of a
parent.
• The death of Nordan’s biological
father left a void in his life.
• Nordan can vividly recall his
mothers lack of reaction to the
news of the death.
• Nordan did not properly grieve for
his dad.
• His biological father was not often
talked about at home.
Szymanowska J. “A child in the face of a parents death”

5. “Where is dad tonight?”
The absence of a living parent and its affects on a
child:
• Nordan’s step-father was gone a lot of the time.
• Step-father spent a lot of time in bars with his buddies, drinking.
• This made Nordan have a lot of curiosity about what it was really
like to have a male presence in his life.
Moller, et al “Social referencing and Child Anxiety”

6. Sexual curiosity:
• Steadfast obsession with women.
Many examples throughout the
book.
• Often made women up in his mind.
• “Loved” women before he met
them.
o NY lady & Misty the Circus Woman.
• Curious of his mother’s sexuality,
as well as his father’s.

7. “I want to be Superman.”
Children’s Fantasies:
• After the death of his father, Nordan often fantasized about having
another life.
• He would get lost in his comic books of superheroes.
• It was an escape for him.
Widzer, M.E “The comic-book superhero: A study of the family romance fantasy”

8. “Mail orders”
Life outside of Itta Bena, MS.
• Lewis discovered mail order catalogs.
• He would use them to order gifts for his
parent's and for himself.
• It was kind of the highlight of his summer.
• He had an utter fascination with the whole
process of it.

9. “I love my “father” but I tried to kill him.”
Children, Guns, and curiosity:
• Nordan obtained a pistol through mail order.
• He tried to kill his step-father.
• His book goes into detail about time spent with
his father practicing shooting at a river near his
home.
Slovan & Singer “Children and Violence: Findings and Implications from a Rural Community”

10. Emmitt Till: Racism in the 1950’s:
• Nordan vividly recalls a violent act of racism
again Emmitt Till, who was murdered by white
men in the 1950’s.
• He recalls being in his school’s locker room
and hearing gossip about it.
• One boy stood out in his mind because of the
way the young man profoundly stated that he
was on Emmitt’s side and those men were
blatantly wrong for what they did.
• He contacted the man later in life to commend
his actions.
Rahman A. “Emmitt Till’s Mother Speaks”

11. “Mama, just killed a Man.”
Survivor Guilt and its affects:
• Nordan was involved in a fatal car
accident in his early life.
• The other driver, who was at fault, dies.
• The deceased man’s wife came to see
Nordan in the hospital.
• Even though the other driver was under
the influence of meth, Nordan still felt
guilty for the man dying and also guilt
for the family that was left behind.
Mayou & Bryant “Consequences of Road Traffic Accidents for Different Types of Road User”

12. Early Life. Marriage and Whatnot:
• Nordan married young, while he was
still in college. He and first wife,
Elizabeth, eloped.
• Questioned whether or not he was ready,
as did Elizabeth.
• For an early marriage, it lasted longer
than most statics show.
7. Bartz & Nye. “Early Marriage: A Propositional Formulation”

13. A Parent’s Worst Fear:
Death of a Child… Or 2:
• Nordan lost one child to miscarriage,
during his marriage to Elizabeth.
• Lost his oldest son Robin, to suicide.
• Always felt a void by Robin’s death.
Kaplow, Howell, & Layne “Do Circumstances of the Death Matter? Identifying Socio-
environmental Risks for Grief-Related Psychopathology in Bereaved Youth”

14. The ugly world of Adultery:
• Nordan had 2 marriages, both in which he committed adultery.
• The first time to his wife Elizabeth with her hippie friend, Twyla.
• The second time to his wife Annie with a young college aged girl.
• He would try to analyze the cheating to make it seem ok in his
mind.
Walters & Burger B “I Love You & I Cheated: Investigating
Disclosures And Infidelities To Primary Romantic Partners”

15. Ramon, the Lying Houseguest:
• Ramon is a friend of Nordan’s
from college.
• He is going through a divorce.
• He stays with Nordan and
Elizabeth for several weeks and
is very unappreciative.
• He lies to make himself look
good, and make Nordan look
bad.
Deturck & Steele “Once a Liar, Always a Liar: Effects of Individuating Information
on the Utilization of Base Rates in Deceptive Attributions”

16. An Alcoholic and a Writer:
• In his adult life, Nordan was a severe alcoholic.
• He pursued writing, which made the alcoholism worse.
• His alcoholism may have stemmed from his childhood.
• He had a bad experience seeing his step-father almost die
in a drunken episode at a bar.
Berk L.E., (2011)
Exploring Lifespan
Development

17. Concluding Nordan’s Life:
• After his divorce to Elizabeth, he
met and re-married Annie.
• He eventually had to come clean
about his cheating.
• Annie made him move into the
basement.
• After a long time of trials, they did
work things out.

18. Concluding Nordan’s Life cont.
• Nordan was able to turn things
around for himself.
• It wasn’t until his 50’s that he
realized for the first time what it
was like to really love.
• He tied up loose ends with old
relationships.
• Successfully published his
memoir in addition to other books.
Beck G., “The 7 Wonders That Will change your Life”

19. Lewis Nordan
August 23, 1939 – April 13, 2012

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