A pensive Johnny gazes out the window
on the way to his hometown book signing
in Lancaster, PA, January 14, 2011.
Moments before, Tara had explained to him
that 11-year-old Michelle Babineau, diagnosed with
an incurable brain tumor, would be coming to the signing
to fulfill a dying wish: to meet him.
Michelle had been offered the chance to either
go to Disneyland or to see Johnny.
She chose Johnny.
On a wintry Friday evening in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, two families and their extraordinary children came together for a brief but heartfelt moment in the name of love.
While Johnny, with characteristic humility, credits little Michelle entirely for their warm and engaging encounter, he was very much instrumental in making it as wonderful as it was. He is one of the kindest, gentlest, most loving and nurturing souls on the planet. And, as Tara points out in the episode, "Johnny has an incredible way with children."
Here is their moment, documented in these screencaps from BGJW episode 203.
As always, please click any photo twice for larger view. (Spoiler alert: Dialogue from the episode is quoted below.)
I want everybody to understand
how close he is to his family,
and how much family support he does get. I’ve always accepted him for who he is.
I just want him to be happy.
—Patti Weir
Johnny goes in through the bookstore's back entrance
to see his waiting family.
He asks Patti, "What did you think of the book?"
She quips, "I knew the story, so it was a fast read for me."
"I got very touched in a couple of places.
Just real proud of you for the job that you did."
"Dad and I both are."
Hugs all around, including for Patti...
...and beloved Aunt Diane.
The hometown crowd is thrilled to see him,
and Johnny is moved by their enthusiastic response.
"It’s nice to see that when you’re in your hometown,
they love and support you no matter what."
In voiceover, Tara notes that Michelle and her family
have just arrived. The Babineaus have come all the way
from their home in Virginia, a nearly 200-mile drive,
to make this dream come true for Michelle.
Johnny: "It’s so good to meet you!"
Michelle: "Oh, it’s good to meet YOU!"
As Patti looks on, Michelle asks Johnny to sign her neck pillow.
"Absolutely. I’m so happy we got to meet today!"
Then he says, "I have a pillow too. Will you sign mine?"
Michelle gasps: "Really?"
"Yeah!"
Johnny holds the pillow steady for her,
and Michelle writes her name and draws a heart
slowly and carefully. Her dad, Joe, explains,
"She was right-handed.
She had to relearn with her left hand."
"Michelle, it looks beautiful.
I’m going to take this everywhere with me."
"I have some stuff for you too. This is Cheburashka.
Nobody knows if he’s a boy or a girl, but he’s just so cute!"
"He’s going to be a boy to me."
"I think so too."
"And you know what I’m going to name him?"
"What?"
“Johnny Weir.”
"Thank you, Michelle!"
"I also have the Team USA scarf from the Olympics
that we got to wear for the Opening Ceremonies.
And I wanted you to have it."
"Oh, thank you, Johnny!"
"My pleasure, honey."
"Yes! You’re an Olympian now."
Under the loving gaze of her parents
and Johnny's dad, Michelle listens intently
to Johnny: "Always think positive,
and always think you’re the best,
and Johnny's dad, Michelle listens intently
to Johnny: "Always think positive,
and always think you’re the best,
and you’re the strongest,
and you’re the most beautiful."
and you’re the most beautiful."
"Because it’s true."
Michelle, softly and shyly: "You’re beautiful to me."
"You’re beautiful to me."
A hug and a kiss for Michelle's mom, Helen.
Tara and Patti help with photos...
...which are also beautiful.
Michelle passed away exactly four weeks later,
on Friday, February 11, at home,
surrounded by her family.
surrounded by her family.
Meeting Michelle
was as much of a gift to me
as it was to her.
—Johnny Weir
Finlandia Update: Apparently Finnish TV will be offering highlights of the men's free skate on Sunday, Oct. 7, beginning at 5:50 p.m. Finland time, or 10:50 a.m. EDT (thanks to @HBladesHPassion for the tip!).
In response to an email from a fan, the station noted that they are unable to provide live coverage or streaming of the men's skating, but "you can see the best parts of men's programs on Sunday."
Once again, here's the Finlandia men's event schedule:
Men's Short Program
Friday, October 5
5 pm - 7:30 pm Finland time
10 am - 12:30 pm EDT
9 am - 11:30 am CDT
8 am - 10:30 am MDT
7 am - 9:30 am PDT
Men's Free Skate
Saturday, October 6
6 pm - 9 pm Finland time
11 am - 2 pm EDT
10 am - 1 pm CDT
9 am - 12 noon MDT
8 am - 11 am PDT
Men's Victory Ceremony
Saturday, October 6
9 pm Finland time
2 pm EDT
1 pm CDT
12 noon MDT
11 am PDT
Finlandia Highlghts
Sunday, October 7
5:50 pm Finland time here
10:50 am EDT
9:50 am CDT
8:50 am MDT
7:50 am PDT
Please alert absolutely everyone you've ever met
to "like" and follow the new
Because he should be on all the things.
With or without ice.
But definitely with Viacheslav.
A new post from Patti
on Johnny's Comeback Gift Fund website!
Please go read it now!
But wait, there's more!!!
Set those DVRs now: 10 pm EDT / 9 pm CDT
Set those DVRs now: 10 pm EDT / 9 pm CDT
for new BGJW episodes every Monday only on Logo!
Please be sure to check in with GetGlue
anytime you're watching the show...
or thinking about watching the show....
or wishing you were watching the show....
Please be sure to check in with GetGlue
anytime you're watching the show...
or thinking about watching the show....
or wishing you were watching the show....
Landing quads and kicking ass
at a Grand Prix event near you!
Read his comeback statement
on his website!
Please be sure to read Johnny's fabulous
London 2012 blog entries on People.com!
Fierce Competition (and Fashion!) at London Games
London 2012 blog entries on People.com!
Here's a listing of his blog posts (newest first):
My First Impressions of the London Olympic GamesFierce Competition (and Fashion!) at London Games
Yes, YOU can be a part of Johnny's comeback!
Please visit Johnny's Comeback Gift Fund today
and chip in as little as $1 via PayPal.
Our small gifts can help make his dream of competing
in his third Olympic Games come true!
And now you can leave a message
of support for Johnny, too!
in his third Olympic Games come true!
And now you can leave a message
of support for Johnny, too!
Please click to vote for Johnny
once a day as "Best Sportsman"!
Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka to tell us
he wants us to! (Note: With his "58.132" rating,
he is currently in 1st place in both
Figure Skating AND across all sports!)
Q and A! Go read it now!
Johnny's Glitter and Ice collection
with MAC is pretty much sold out,
but I'm leaving this video on here
for a little while longer
because I love it so much.
At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!
Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!
Johnny tweeted:
"Buy my single,'Dirty Love' via iTunes.
Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold
takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!"
IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.
You know what to do.
Please buy the song from Johnny's website,
or just click the "Buy" button on the player
at the top of the blog!
at the top of the blog!
Hey, Welcome to My World also is available
as an eBook! More info on Johnny's website!
copyright 2012 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved
3 comments:
This scene with Michelle and Johnny's family is the ultimate in family friendly.
Hope the sponsors of Stars on Ice undergo the Grinch transformation:
"And what happened then...? Well...in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day!
And then the true meaning of Christmas came through,
And the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches… plus two."
Here's hoping that Michelle will get a skating lesson from Sergei Grinkov and that lost plane full of skaters on the big skating rink in the sky.
The scene, and these pictures, of Michelle and Johnny just bring me to absolute tears. Heart-wrenching.
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