My name is Gabe.  Actually it's Gabriel, but most of my friends (and my friends) call me "Gabe".  I am 17 years old.  I live with my family in Menlo Park, New Jersey.  Was born here; have lived in this area all my life.  It's the only home I have ever known.

In the fall, I will be a senior.  I started school a year late; otherwise I would have already graduated by now.  Oh, well ... at least it's only one more year.  After I get out of school I would like to join the military or maybe go to college.

I would like to make the military a possible career.  My Daddy was a sailor in the Navy.  My uncle (Daddy's brother) was a Marine drill sergeant; he just retired two years ago; said the past 20 years in the Marines were the best of his life.  He absolutely loved it!

I have one sister, Jade; she is 10 and is special needs.  Down's syndrome.  She is mentailly disabled with the mindset of a three year old, even though most girls her age are talking about rock music, boys, the latest rock hits, and hanging out at the mall; as for Jade, she is into princesses, the color pink, teddy bears, and coloring books and crayons.  She has yet to learn to read and write and is not toilet trained.  Mom is working with her on that but is not really making much headway.

It's kind of embarrassing when she pees herself or when she has a bowel movement; then I have to explain to my friends why my sister, who is only seven years younger than I am, is still in diapers.  I know they must find her odd.  I do know this much: if they even think of teasing Jade, I will beat the holy shit out of them!!  My sister can't help the way she is; she deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, not put down upon!!

In addition to Mom, Daddy, and Jade, our grandma lives with us as well.  She has Alzheimer's disease and is really "out there".  She has gotten very forgetful and has to be watched every minute or she will end up doing stupid things like putting the car keys into the freezer, putting the bills into the paper shredder (then people wonder why the collection agencies are always on our ass), or calling Daddy John (John was her husband; Daddy's name is Harold), or talking about the War (Korea) as if it is still going on.  She can walk and talk now, but she makes no sense.  It's really eerie.

If you ask me, having to babysit an old lady and a ten year old child with Down's syndrome is getting to be a real hassle because it's like I'm watching TWO kids instead of one adult and a preteen!

Then, if I don't already have all that to deal with, I am having problems with my best friend, Hermoso (Hermie) Rodriguez.  He and I got into a huge fight right before school let out for the summer; he was acting all Lady Ga Ga over a girl who had signed his yearbook and wanted nothing more than to hang out at the mall in the hopes that "Lyssa" would be there.  That was all he wanted to do.  I got fed up and called him a total dorkwad; we haven't speken to each other since after he called me some nasty names in Spanish.  I miss Hermie; he was a lot of fun ... or was before he dumped me.

I don't know what's going to happen, but one thing IS for certain: if things at home (or with Hermie Rodriguez) don't change soon, I just may have to end up running away; it seems like nobody appreciates me and all that I do!  UGH!!  My life is nothing but one huge, major "Suck Zone"!!