Howdy!  Goon Perkins here.  I hope this finds y'all well!

Sometimes I feel silly for writing in a journal (my friends kid me, call me a "girlie-girl", say that's for sissies), but hey.  Who in the heck even cares??  As long as I'm happy doing it, then people should leave me alone!

I have always had a flair for writing; at first, getting started on this thing was difficult; but since I've done two entries, I find it to be getting easier as I go along.  I love to write; I write poetry, stories, and even articles.  I've written stuff for the school newspaper, even have won awards for it.  Hey, as long as I'm good at writing, I should persue it.  Right?  (Makes perfect sense! :) )

I am doing okay.  Not great, since finding out about my bud, Shawn Perkins, but at least I'm not at risk of getting killed or shot (though I worry whenever I hear the gunfire at night; at night I don't even venture out unless it's absolutely necessary).  I try to watch my p's and q's (and more than that!).

I have tried to get in touch with Shawn, but have no idea where he is.  Any letter I've attempted to send to him comes back as "Undeliverable" or "return to sender".  I only hope and pray he's okay; he deserves a much better life than he's had as of late!

All I can do is hope for the best and keep him in my prayers!

My life isn't easy, not by a long shot, but compared to what Shawn Perkins has faced, I have it soft!!

I am looking forward to school starting up in a few weeks.  I am sick of summer vacation; I am ready to hit the books and see my homeboyz!  I miss seeing my friends!

I know that sounds funny, me saying I am sick of vacation, but hey.  I love school.  I also love playing football; in fact, our first scrimmage is next Friday.  I have signed up for the team again this year; the scrimmage will decide who makes the cut.  I have no worries that I will make it.  When it comes to football, I, Goon Perkins, have the skillz!  :)

Football is one of my favorite hobbies/interests.  I not only play it; I also watch it.  We have the channel where they have "all football, all the time".  Football 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  I love that channel; if I don't watch ESPN or CNN, I am usually tuned into the NFL Channel.  Yeah, buddy, football is #1 with me!  (Actually, it's #2; God's #1 in my life.  LOL)

I guess another reason I am ready for school (or football) is that I don't have to keep on watching my little brother.  He has this spinal disease, and it's getting worse.  I hate worrying about his future; I wish I had a little brother I could toss the pigskin to or have races with; my brother can't walk.  It breaks my heart, each and every time!

I am good with my brother, don't get me wrong; I just wish I had a brother who didn't have to use a wheelchair or have other people help him!  His health is so delicate, any number of things can put him into the hospital, just like that, and I hate the fear this brings!

Well, I am going to go.  Tubby my neighbor across the way from me wants to play a video game.  Something about storm chasing; Tubby is into weather big time.  (He wants to be either a storm chaser or a meteorologist when he's older.)  I will have to see what it entails, but if I get sucked up by a rogue twister, I am going to murderlize him!  He usually beats me at whatever game we play; what's to say he won't beat me at this one, too?

Take care and may God bless you always!  Continue to keep Shawn Perkins and his family in your prayers; I, meanwhile, am praying hard for them!  Thanks in advance!

~Goon.  :)