All good things come to an end

They were originally called Dream Weeks. To the best of my knowledge they were begun in the early 1980s by former Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley. They're available to fans of different sports and different franchises. They give fans a chance to live out dreams of taking the field, court or ice in the uniform of their favorite team. They are opportunities to leave the cruel world behind. A chance to revel in a place where time seemingly stands still, causing you to realize how short life as you know it really is. I had that opportunity this week. Along with about 125 fellow fantasy campers we collectively attempted to use our minds, and varying levels of physical prowess, to give us one more week of summer. Today marks the end of those attempts.

Today was the beginning of the closing process at the complex. We each had our pictures taken with the entire coaching staff and then we had a couple of group photos taken by both the staff photographers and by drone as well. The campers had the chance to hit against the pros on the turf field if they wanted. I opted out in order to give myself more time to go through the sad task of packing my stuff away and cleaning out my locker. 

With that process having been completed I headed to my hotel to start some of the packing that would need to be completed before my drive to Tampa tomorrow.

The awards banquet was once again a great event. It gave most of the players a chance to look spiffy before the trip home on Saturday. I chose a black sport coat with matching pants and grey shirt with white collar. The only reason I mention this is because I am known as the 2nd best dressed person at camp. The best dressed? Without a doubt it's Felix Millan. The man is 80 years of age and is KILLING IT with his stylish clothes. Nelson Figueroa gives me a run for my money though.

Doug Flynn brought the crowd to attention and then told us that dinner would be served first, followed by the award presentations. The catering this year was changed to a different company and I must say that the food was exceptional. If they can figure out a way to have a pizza maker from Queens come down for the week and supply him with an oven, that would be "the joint".  

Tonight's closing banquet was enjoyable once again. Each team was introduced in ascending order of their finish in the standings. While finishing 4-3 for the week we were ranked 5th in the overall standings. After a couple of teams, their coaches and their chosen team mvps had been announced, the individual awards were handed out. Trophies for most hits, best defensive player, best batting average, best catcher, best pitcher and best positive attitude were given out. At the halfway point the newest inductees into the MFC Hall of Fame were introduced to the crowd. The two new inductees are both certainly deserving of their inductions. They are Bob Wasp and Rob Kantor. I congratulate them both. I can just imagine how proud they both must be to have been recognized in that fashion. Who knows, maybe I could be fortunate enough to join them in that elite group one day. Well done, gentlemen. 

One of the beautiful things I saw tonight, and as I have at every camp, is as I looked around the room I saw people from all walks of life. Fantasy camp brings together about 125 souls who have something in common. We had different ages, different races, different genders, different political views, different religious views, different health issues, and other differences too numerous to name here. But the one thing that bonded us all is the love of the New...York...Mets. We are dyed-in-the-wool Mets fans, some of us since birth. Some of us are headed back home to situations that we may not be looking forward to. Others may be heading home to situations they can't wait to get back to. We live is such tumultuous times right now. I just wish that the camaraderie that I saw in the room tonight and all week could carry on to everyone from far and wide. To be able to talk in respectful tones and not need to shout above one another. To want to be the part of the greater good and to be compassionate towards one another in times of need and stress. It was a great experience and I'm glad that I was here for it once again.

I want to take this time to thank all of my teammates with whom I took the field with this week. To Bobby Patel, Brian Gibellino, Carmen Parrotta, Chris Cucuzza, Chris Panza, David Shih, Jim Marhold, John Diaz, Tim Doerner and Paul Isserles, whom I was fortunate enough to have as a teammate last year. Thank you all so much for making my week so enjoyable. Also to our coaches John Debus and Mookie Wilson.

As the evening came to a close the good-byes began between the players. It was obvious that no one wanted to leave and think about the normal day-to-day stuff which life throws at us 24/7/365. But ya can't outrun it. If you can, then contact me. Immediately. Seriously. 

Barry Lyons, a former catcher for the Mets, may have summed it up best. Mets Fantasy Camp is about brotherhood, friendship and a love of the New York Mets. He's exactly right. We all have a mutual love-the Mets. So many of us come from different backgrounds. Different parts of the country. Our belief systems differ. Our stances on politics differ. The triumphs and tragedies that we have each experienced differ. But all of those things go away when we talk about "the Orange and Blue".  

All week long I was given accolades from other campers for my writings and told how much they enjoyed them. I have found out that there are those who find my entries so pleasing that they put them in a better mood on days that might not be going that well. A teammate once asked me how I do it. I told him that when you love something as much as I have loved baseball all of my life and loving this team for over 50 years, it just flows out of me at times.

I grew up as a Mets fan. Always have been. Even during my employment with the Minnesota Twins (1989-2002). But orange and blue run through my veins. I was born on the day on which ground was broken for what would later be known as... Shea Stadium. That pretty much summed up why I felt connected to this team.  

Webster had a lot of words in his dictionary and Roget had a bunch in his thesaurus, but finding the right words to describe a week at fantasy camp is virtually impossible. A futile effort to say the least. But I do know that saying that I loved every minute of it is a huge understatement.

I wish you only all the best in the future. Thanksgiving is but less than a week away. It has always been my favorite holiday. I am thankful for the past week that I have spent on the Treasure Coast of the Sunshine State and everyone who made me feel appreciated. May you all have a great holiday season, whatever your particular observed holiday may be. 

Week 2 of 2024 is now but 51 weeks away. 

Special thanks go to my late wife Bryn, who allowed me to use part of my MLB pension money from my time with the Twins to attend my first camp in January of 2013. She knew how much it meant to me and she attended along with me my first 5 camps. This was my second camp since her passing, and she's still with me on the field with me. 

I will close with one of my favorite quotes, which also appears in rotunda at CitiField:

"A life is not important except for the effect it has on other lives" - Jackie Robinson

With this in mind, go out and have a positive effect on someone's life.  That's what I'm gonna do.

Thanks for spending the last few days with me.  I hope you enjoyed it. 

I love this game.