Gary Ladd:  

Life I've been a nomad throughout my life...born outside Philadelphia, moved to NE PA when I was in kindergarten, moved to W/B when I was 8, moved to Sugar Notch (thanks to Hurricane Agnes) in '72, and have moved constantly while serving my country in the US Air Force...in October 2004, I retired from the military after over 24 years of service and I currently work in the defense contractor industry. I have "settled down"...married a good woman, two wonderful children, took advantage of good job prospects when I retired...the military lifestyle was the ideal match for me (discipline, sense of accomplishment, opportunities for all) as I continue to rely upon these traits for my post-AF life. School School was something that came easy to me...the academics, at least...I always tried to fit in (sports, school government, senior play) and did find a group of friends that I could be myself when they were around. Over the years, I lost contact with all of them ("Pongee", "Chumley", "Murdoch", & "Sasquatch"). It's sad that I've forgotten them over the years and the things we used to do (playing cards up at the cabin, cruising through W/B cranking Van Halen on the 8-track, hanging out at John's house over in Plymouth). Those were much simpler days, but based on our class's lack of reunions, I'm guessing it was a time that many of us don't want to revisit... College I began taking college courses in high school (was identified as a 'gifted student')...I dropped the only course I was selected for (calculus) after 5 weeks. As a National Honor Society member, I applied for and was selected for Wilkes College's Hahnemann medic...Expand for more