Gerry Cox:  

Life Since Northeastern University graduation in 1981, I have moved to California, camped, climbed rocks, skied and paddled whitewater, 20-40 weekends per year. I was married after 7 years of dating and co-habitation, and then divorced after 4 years of marriage. We had no children, and working then with severe special-needs students and now 200+ middle school students, I have not felt the need for my own. Taking up mountaineering after moving to CA, I have ascended the 3rd and 5th highest peaks in North America, Popocatepetl (17,700') and Orizaba (18,800', now considered an ACTIVE volcano) in the Mexican volcanoes. I have also climbed technical rocks and ice at reasonably skilled levels, and have spent multiple days on wall climbs in Zion NP, Utah. I take a week every Winter to climb ice in Ouray, near Telluride, CO. In the last few years, I have been identified by Native Americans as a potential Medicine Person, and have undertaken visionary and transformational dances as part of that process. Having survived motorcycle and car crashes, long climbing falls and the like, it seems that perhaps I have been saved for some other purpose. It's quite the interesting gig. College I took a moratorium from education for a year, following HS. I worked in a leather tannery as a carpenter, to make $$ to attend college. I put myself through Northeastern University, at quite a steep expense. Our good ol' Guidance Counselor, never told me that should an education program not be available in NH, then the State would pay for tuition elsewhere in New England, reducing my expenses to the State University costs for in-state students. (?!) I cou...Expand for more