December 2011, New Hampshire~ 

Howdy! Goon (Garrett) Perkins writing!  Hope this finds you all well!

I am home in New Hampshire, where I am visiting my family for the holidays.  Alaska is okay, but it's just too.  Flippin'.  COLD! I thought New Hampshire was bad in the winter ... PUH!!  Nothin' doing!!  Compared to Alaska, New Hampshire feels more like Miami Beach!!  

I have to leave the 28th of December, where I will fly back to Alaska.  I have to be back to work by the second of January 2012.  

I would have liked to have more time, but when the Air Force speaks, YOU LISTEN.

It is so great to see my family again.  I have missed Mom, Dad, my brothers Icarus, Marcus, Eden, and Joshiah, and my baby sister Dyamond like CRAZY.  Joshiah continues to defy medical odds; he is still with us, which has been an answer to our prayers.  (Joshiah has spinocerebellar ataxia.  It causes increasing disability, which is why he is in a wheelchair and needs help with a lot of things as he can no longer do them himself.  It is a mean disease.)

And Icarus, who has autism, is getting harder to live with.  Twice yesterday he tried to dismantle the Christmas tree when he lost his temper because nobody was paying attention to him.  I love him, don't get me wrong, but something needs to be done about his behavior!!

At least Marcus and Dyamond aren't too bad ... I can thank God for that!  And Mom and Dad have been spoiling me by fixing my favorite meals (home-made meatloaf, fried potatoes, carrots, lettuce and tomato salad ... yum!! ... and New York style pizza ... DOUBLE yum!!) and getting me gifts (cash, new clothes, etc.).

I have a great set of parents and wonderful brothers (and sister), but some of them CAN drive me bonkers at times!  (Like ICARUS, as an example ... )

I even heard from my best buddy, Shawn, who lives in Alabama.  He called me yesterday and we talked for over an hour.  He is doing fantastic as well; he is going to college and loving every minute.  He is on Christmas break as well.  He told me he sent me something; I should be expecting something in the mail sometime this week.  I will be on the lookout for it.

I don't know how the weather is in your part of the woods, but here it is cold and VERY snowy.  I think it's safe to say that we will have a white Christmas this year.

Well, I'm gonna go.  Gonna go back to bed; too early for me to be up.  I'd go to church, but I'm too tired.  Up late last night; darned old Facebook!!  Take care and God bless!  And above all ... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

~Goon.