6/6/23 part 1
So it’s time to talk about that day, but it will take many parts to do so.
Before I get into it, I have to give a bit of a background (and by the way, I’m notoriously made fun of by everyone that knows me because I can’t tell a story unless I give every single detail-Hello Virgo)!
6/6/23 was a Tuesday, but I am going to bring you back really quick to the Sunday prior. My best friend, ma dude, and someone you will hear a lot about in the future posts, got tickets for us to see Milky Chance, and Young the Giant at Pier 17 in the city. We used to go to Firefly festival for 10 years, with my other besties Jacquie and Ronald, you’ll be hearing about them a lot too. Long story short, Kris and I were so excited, not only to see our favorite band, but to be outside and experiencing live music. We decided it would make more sense to stay over since I had to work at Haymaker Bar and Kitchen (29th and 8th) best bar in the city. We went to the show, had a great time, went back to the hotel and obviosuly stayed up later than anticipated.
I have the worst memory for someone my age, but I remember everything that transpired from that moment. Every conversation, every small detail…its actually wild. So, Ashlee facetimed Kris and I when she was at her father’s house because she had just gotten off work and wanted to spend time with her sister, and calm her anxiety. I remember every word of that conversation. Monday morning came, and Kris and I were CRAWLING to my job, where she would hop on the train at Penn Station. It was one of the worst shifts ever, as many of you know, working and being hungover is horrific. All I wanted to do when I got home was go to sleep. After an 8 hour shift and a 2 hour commute home, I was ready to die and or pass out immediately, especially because I had to do it all again the next morning. But there she was, waiting with a drink and dinner for me when I got home. This is a night that I will forever be grateful for. We stayed up having a few drinks, smoking a few cigarettes (I know, I know), just talking about everything. We often did this, but we hadn’t in a while because of our busy schedules. but we laughed and talked to about 2 a.m. Which was very late for us, considering it was a Monday and how hungover and tired I was, and her too. Like I said though, I will be eternally grateful for that night.
Tuesday morning came. like any other morning. Ashlee was such a go-getter, her whole family is-and I’m the complete opposite, a procrastinator to the very end, but that’s besides the point. So back to the never-ending story, Ashlee woke up at 8 a.m. and went for her 3 mile walk across the bridge, like she started doing every morning to be active and healthy. Then she came into the room, and kissed me on my head to wake me up to get ready for work.
A moment that is etched into my head forever, is how unusually sweaty she was. I rememeber making a comment as well, because she would obviously sweat a bit but nothing like this. We both obviously went on, because it wasn’t serious at all, just unusual. I remember coming out of the room, ready to jump in the shower to get ready for work and Ashlee was on the arm of the couch, I could picture it right now. As I was walking to get in the shower I kissed her, and she said she wasn’t feeling well, which Ashlee rarelyyyy ever said. Again though, we didn’t think twice about it because we were up until 2 a.m. drinking, and she was also meant to get her period. She never embellished on what exactly she felt, just that she didnt feel well. Something I will always regret, not asking more. I remember exactly what I did and said after that, which was kiss her on the forehead and said take some Tylenol after you eat when you get home (thinking it was for the cramps and or hangover).
This particular day was out of the ordinary because I always drove myself to the train station, but I was planning on staying at my sister Sue’s (incredible human being and my world) in Astoria, so Ashlee wanted to drop me off and take my car to her private practice because her car was a lease and was over the miles. (This information will be helpful in the next part).
I drove to Hicksville train station, which was about 20 mins away, while she did her makeup in the car-because when she got back home, she had to jump right onto a zoom for an Alumni meeting and then leave right for work. Everything was fine the ride there, we pulled up, and another moment I’m eternally grateful for, we kissed and said I love you, and then I hopped on the train, around 10 a.m.
I texted her around 11:45 a.m. because I knew that her meeting ended at 12 but I didn’t get a response, honestly I haven’t even been able to read what I wrote, but I’m sure it was just saying I loved or missed her; or just checking in. Little did I know that would be the last time I texted my wife. I didn’t think twice about it, but about 10 minutes later I got a call from her mother that would forever change all of our lives…
