Hello!  It's me, Goon, as in Goon (Garrett) Perkins!  Hope this finds you well!

As for me, I have been on a diet.  Doctor's orders; he says all this extra weight isn't good for me.  I told him I'm seven and a half feet tall!  I carry my poundage well, and besides, I get plenty of exercise chasing my brothers around!  He didn't buy it.  So far, I've lost 50 pounds, so I weigh less than 600 punds now:  575, to be exact.  Have to get new clothes: the ones I have now absolutely sag on me!

My brothers Icarus, Eden, and Marcus continue to drive me crazy.  Don't know where they get all that energy!  Icarus is still about the same, in relation to his health; he hasn't gotten any worse, so maybe his stupid spinocerebellar-whatever has reached a dead end.  Let's hope so!  (He has spinocerebellar ataxia, which is a rare disease.  It causes progressive disability.  Eventually he will end up helpless, unable to do anything for himself; it is a terrible, tragic disease; I wouldn't want to wish it on my own worst enemy!)

I try to be understanding towards Icarus, but he gets babied because "he's special", and it drives me up the wall!!

I am happy to report that I am doing well in all my classes.  I've managed to bring my bad grades in history and math to a passing level:  where I once got F's, I am now getting C's.  Quite an improvement; my mom and pop are very proud of me.  I am very proud of myself, too!  I've worked hard to bring my grades up!

I heard from my best buddy-pal, Shawn Perkins, who is now living in Alabama; his last name is now Greene; he has officially been adopted, as have his sisters, Quaneesha and Q'uirionka; they live with him, too, so the family is back together again.  His name is now Shawn Perkins-Greene.  I am very happy for him; he's really had a rough go of it these past few years!  (Maybe he needs to change his nickname from "Dangerous" to "Determined"??  :) )

When I talked to Shawn, he seemed very happy.  It was great to hear his voice, but I sure do miss palling around with him here in New York City!  The Bronx isn't the same without his streetsmart ways or his big mouth!

I have a new sister, besides my brother:  my parents adopted a girl from Missouri; her name is Dyamond; she's six, and is a whiny little thing.  She could give my little brothers a run for their money!  She is okay, but she's a girl; it's hard to get used to a little girl runnin' about when all I've ever known is being with boys!  And I can't take her whining!  Sheesh!!

Dyamond's been with us since Thanksgiving, and she sleeps in my room.  Great!  My room has been invaded with girl-cooties!  It's sure hard to do things when you have a little girl-kid tagging right behind you all the time!  It's really a pain!!

Now that football season is over (our team made it to the playoffs, but then we lost when it counted), I can concentrate on my diet, my studies, and my family.  This is why you haven't heard from me; I've had tons to do!  I hope you understand.

Well, I gotta get up and eat breakfast, as well as get ready for school.  I will write in here again soson; maybe Shawn will do the same; that way you know what's shakin' with him.  Anyway, you take care; this is Goon saying so long and God bless!

~Sincerely, your friend, Goon Perkins.  :)