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  • February 17, 2012 | 11:50 AM ET

    Sad news for baseball, and for me...

    Hi everyone!

    Where did the week go?  I can’t believe it’s Friday already. 

    So, you guys know by now I sometimes like to get a little personal on the blog.  This morning I felt compelled to write something very personal and perhaps document it so I won’t forget it.  Last night, I heard baseball hall of famer Gary Carter had passed away after battling brain cancer.  He was only 57.  

    I found myself weeping after hearing he died.  I never knew Mr. Carter, but it brought back wonderful memories of my father.   My dad died last year of cancer.  Sadly, we were estranged for many years – and I only heard of his illness after his death.    But last night, when I heard about the handsome baseball player losing his battle with cancer I not only mourned his death, but I mourned my fathers passing and to a greater extent, the relationship I had with my dad.

    I think one of the most vivid, wonderful memories I have, was when my father took me to my very first baseball game.   He scored some pretty fantastic seats to see the Montreal Expos from someone at work, and decided to take me with him.   I took the day off school.   We drove for two hours to get to Olympic Stadium.  I remember being so excited to have this time alone with him, having this great adventure we were on.  He schooled me on some of the general rules of baseball  so that I would know what was going on when we got to the park.  I had watched games with him at home on television as the Expos brought major league baseball to Canada.  They were the hot team with  Carter as their all-star catcher.    His good looks and charm came across on television.  He looked like a movie star, and played like it a true champion.   You could tell this guy was the real-deal.    We had to double check our seat numbers when we found them – right above home plate!   

    I can’t remember the exact moment when Gary Carter decided to look up at us, but he was on the field, and certainly had plenty of other things to capture his attention.   It was almost like he was responding to us calling his name.   Something made me raise my arm and wave to him like he was an old friend in a crowd.  I remember his eyes lit up- he stopped what he was doing, and waved right back at me with his beautiful smile of his.  Maybe for about 10 seconds.   I then looked up at my father. 

    “Dad!  Did Gary Carter just wave at me???” 

    “Yes, yes, he did Janice Anne…he certainly did.”

    I talked about it for days…weeks maybe.  It wasn’t until last night that I remembered that memory, and felt so emotional.    I learned that Mr. Carter was a good man.  And a good father too.

    His daughter Kimmy wrote on his family’s website:

    “I believe with all my heart that dad had a standing ovation as he walked through the gates of heaven to be with Jesus. Thank you all for loving my dad and my entire family.”

    Thank you, Gary Carter for allowing me to remember a wonderful memory of my father.   For smiling at a young, happy girl that day at the ballpark.   It allowed my heart to heal a little bit, and perhaps break a little too at the same time.

    Janice

    Janice Dean
    Meteorologist

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DoloresFromOK

Good Morning to everyone.What a great day I had with my girls yesterday.Had a nice ,long lunch and then did some antique shopping,and enjoyed a beautiful day here in Edmond,temp was 75. Then met my daughter-in-law,Amandas Mom,for dinner a t Red lobster.Such a great day,Amandanis doing well.Baby weighs almost 4lbs.At 36 weeks they will do a cesarian.Hope everyone who was feeling poorly are up and at it again.Take care and be safe,Dolores.

February 23, 2012 at 10:30 am
(1 Reply)

DoninRichmond

Feel better

February 23, 2012 at 8:51 am

A.J. De Young

Hope you JD and family and Margie and your Dad are all on the road to feeling real good again, it seems that kind of thing is going around out west also..our weather was glorius today a Chamber of Commerce day for sure..wasn't it wonderful JD, how you touched so many folks with your story and how it made others have special memories of their loved ones, you are very special and you are the reason we have the most wonderful group of bloggers online in today's world..AJ

February 22, 2012 at 10:30 pm

Margie Gacki

Hey Janice, I hope you & your boys are feeling better by now. I was off for 2 days this week with a stomach virus--not fun at all. I'm trying to get my strength back because I didn't have much to eat for 2 days. I hope you get over your coughing & sneezing. I hope that's the worst of what you have. It's nice to share things with your family but illnesses aren't the kind of thing to share! My dad was sick over the weekend & I think I got what he had--no fun at all! Take care, Margie

February 22, 2012 at 8:58 pm

Gwen

Just cruisin' through...been a very busy week! Hello to all and hope our sick folks are better soon. I have very little to contribute, but it is supposed to be flirting with 80 in MySouth today and tomorrow. Take care and I catch y'all later! Gwen :)

February 22, 2012 at 3:07 pm

DoloresFromOK

Hey,everyone.On my way to lunch with my daughters,and they will go on to shop.I do not shop well.Bad knees and hip.Lunch yesterday with "old" friends.Always enjoy that.Talk about family ,politics,and grands.Hope all are doing well.Temp in the 70's today,and sunny.Take care,Dolores

February 22, 2012 at 1:36 pm

George Spink

Your blog entry about Gary Carter and your dad and you moved me to tears, Janice. My dad and I were very close and did many things together when I was a boy, including going to Cubs and Sox and Bears games in Chicago. A friend of George Halas, my dad obtained hand-autographed baseballs and footballs for me each year from Mr. Halas. Sadly, my dad battled Hodgkins Disease for three years when he was in his mid-40's, passing away when he was only 46 in 1957 and I was 16. I miss him to this day...

February 22, 2012 at 11:33 am

JB in Texas

Margie and JD, I hope you are both feeling better. There seems to be a lot of crud going around lately. May your recovery be quick. In the 70's here today, so the yardwork has begun. An interesting idea: wouldn't it be enlightening if candidates were hooked up to polygraph machines during speeches and debates? The loud beeping would be deafening!

February 22, 2012 at 12:29 am

A.J. De Young

Margie, hope you are feeling much better today and that your weather is getting milder....hi to everyone..a beautiful day here in San Diego area, we walked to the movie and back for The Vow and felt my age and someone's elses when we got home...AJ

February 21, 2012 at 11:38 pm

Joni

Hey JD As I spend these days caregiving for my father, your blog post today touched me so deeply. My father was an athletic instructor at the Air Force Academy back in the day. From there he was always playing sports. After he retired, if he wasnt at home I called the starting box at the AFA golf course so I would know when he tee'd off and when he would be coming home. Today, he is pretty much home bound and barely able to walk on his own even with a walker. So your story connected with me...

February 21, 2012 at 9:57 pm
(2 Replies)

Margie Gacki

Hey AJ, I'm feeling much better now, thank you. I think I'm going to take another day off since I haven't had much to eat today & I don't know how I'll do once I start eating heavier food. I visited my parents over the weekend and my dad was sick. I seemed to have gotten what he had. It's nice to share things with your parents, but this is one thing I can do without! Hopefully I'll feel stronger tomorrow. I hope I sleep well tonight since I didn't last night. Take care, all. Margie

February 20, 2012 at 11:13 pm
(2 Replies)

Margie Gacki

Hey everyone, I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I've been enjoying reading the posts from the visiting bloggers. Janice, you stirred many hearts with your story. Don, 350 is a lot of accidents! You're right, people down there don't have a clue how to drive in the snow. Neither do the folks in Baltimore or DC. We didn't get anything around here. It got up into the 50's today but I couldn't enjoy it because I've been home sick. It hasn't been pleasant but I'll live. Have a great evening, all. MG

February 20, 2012 at 6:40 pm
(1 Reply)

mitchell

Your post on Gary Carter's passing was absolutely beautiful. If you ever stop doing the weather, I hope youll consider writing.

February 20, 2012 at 1:56 pm

DoninRichmond

350 accidents in Richmond yesterday from the snow. They don't know how to drive in snow. Yet Geico raised my rates this year bbecause I turned 70. This Jersey boy knows how to drive in snow.

February 20, 2012 at 7:16 am

A.J. De Young

For Dolores........CSI: NY 8 (unknown eps) returns 3/30/12 that is what I found when I googled it......hope that is the one you were talking about. AJ

February 19, 2012 at 11:56 pm
(1 Reply)

DoloresFromOK

Hey,Janice.Could you do me a favor? Does anyone at Fox or on the blog know what happened to CSI-NY on Friday nights on CBS. There was no info about the show,or when it is coming back and when.The CBS web site gave no info.I know this request seems,trivial,But I am a big fan as I am sure others are.Thatwas my favorate night of TV>Why do networks do that?And not say why.Thanks so much,Dolores.

February 19, 2012 at 11:39 pm

dahlby

Bless your soul Gary and blessings to your family.

February 19, 2012 at 1:15 pm

Roberta

What a brilliantly and emotionally written story. I loved watching Gary Carter play when I was young, and am so glad that you have had some healing. May Gary rest in peace!

February 19, 2012 at 10:33 am

John J. Bluvas

Never knew my father and I try very hard to build up good memories in my Great Grand Children's minds as you have of your dad. I feel that life is wasted unless we can touch someone in our time on earth. Especially family

February 18, 2012 at 10:07 pm

DoloresFromOK

Great story JD,sorry about your Dad,and now you have a beautiful family to make memories.It is cloudy and cold here in Edmond,about 40.I'm planning a very quite weekend,in front of a cozy fire and DVDS.Hope everyone is safe and warm,Dolores

February 18, 2012 at 5:42 pm

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  • Cold fronts, snowstorms, hurricanes, and sunshine. Fox News Channel meteorologist Janice Dean blogs about it all here. You can also follow Janice on Twitter.

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