[May 29, 2010] Family tragedy can't end special bond with Pena Tweet TAMPA, May 29, 2010 (Tampa Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Bruce Barber rambled on and on during the voice mail he left on his mom's cell phone that Sunday morning in September. He talked about flying his plane home from Gainesville after a Florida football game the day before, of the pancakes he had for breakfast, of the Buccaneers' season opener that afternoon. He told his mom that he loved her. "He covered everything," his mom, Shirley Barber said. "Even Carlos." That would be Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena -- Shirley's favorite Ray. Carlos Pena, who, days before Bruce's call, suffered a season-ending injury at Yankee Stadium. "I want to offer my condolences because Carlos has broken fingers," Bruce said. Shirley and her husband, George, both smiled the other day as they heard their son's voice play through the speaker of Shirley's cell phone. "We have a lot in common, our family," said Bruce's sister Beverly Barber-Heckler. "Carlos was just one more connection." Tragedy has made that connection between the Barbers and Pena even stronger. One week after leaving that message, Bruce, his wife, Karen, and his 14-year-old son Payton were killed when the Piper N2467Y Bruce was piloting crashed while flying home to Sea Ranch Lakes after another Gators game. Bruce and Karen's 11-year-old daughter Chloe was not on the flight. She is now being raised by Beverly and her husband, Kevin. Understand this: In the Barber home in Tampa and in the homes of her children, and even in the homes of their extended family and friends, Pena is more than Shirley's favorite player on her favorite team. He is mentioned daily in e-mails. His name pops up in most conversations. When Pena comes to bat, Shirley yells, "CARLOS!" When Pena hits a home run or makes another dazzling play at first base, Shirley's cell phone buzzes. "My mom really, really likes Carlos," Beverly said. "When he does well, she's excited. And she doesn't abandon him when he doesn't." Seven months later, the pain from the crash is still fresh. Seven months later, Shirley and George still avoid some activities that remind them of Payton, Karen and Bruce. And then there's Carlos Pena. "He keeps them alive for me," Shirley said. "He really does." Through the efforts of Rick Vaughn, the Rays vice president of communications, Shirley will meet Pena on the field before tonight's game at Tropicana Field. Shirley has the need to tell her favorite player just what he means to the Barbers. "It's like he's part of our family," Shirley said. To which Pena said, "Wow." "To hear the entire story, I was moved," Pena said. "I was truly moved. It was a family bond that, in a way, had to do with me. That to me is so humbling." Today's meeting wasn't supposed to happen. Shirley didn't want to watch the Rays play this season. She knew her cell phone would buzz less often when Pena came to bat and that was a pain she wanted to avoid. Rays baseball was going to be another item on the list of painful memories to avoid. But Shirley did want Pena to know what he meant to her and her family and she wanted to wish him luck this season. So she sent an e-mail to Vaughn in March and asked if he would pass it along to Pena. Vaughn did, and that afternoon Pena called Shirley from Fort Myers after an exhibition game with the Twins. "Just to know that there are people out there who appreciate you and what I do, and sometimes I might forget how special it is what I'm doing, it helps put everything into perspective," Pena said. "There is someone out there I don't even know who has so much love, so much support and sends all these good wishes to me. I'm so grateful for that, grateful for all those people who have this good energy for me." Energy is the key word here. Pena has a lot of it. So do all the Barbers. "He's always upbeat, and that's what we're all about -- upbeat and supportive," George said. "He's a well-rounded baseball player, and he always seems to have that spirit." Pena reminds the Barbers of, well, the Barbers. "Maybe more than ever," Beverly said. Shirley said she tried, but she couldn't give up Pena and her Rays. Painful as they can be, there are still some memories Shirley doesn't want to forget. She continues to watch her favorite player and her favorite team with her cell phone by her side, and while the calls and texts may have dwindled, the phone stills buzzes. Beverly said she sometimes hears Payton's voice when she watches a Rays game. "This is very hard on us," Beverly said. "(My parents) thought they could never enjoy baseball again, that it would hurt too much. But watching (the Rays) and Carlos play, it gives you that hope, that maybe you can enjoy things again." To see more of the Tampa Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tampatrib.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Tampa Tribune, Fla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]