Letter to Ashly 1st
September 2nd, 2025

Dear Ashly, I hope this letter finds you and the family well & good.

I have wanted to communicate with you for a while now, but did not know how to reach you.
However, I did not give up and found some information, so I’m writing this letter in hopes that you receive it.

I have been made aware of all the progress you have made with your education, along with your career choice and challenges you have overcome. I am very proud of you and always have been. I knew you would always excel and do something great with yourself.

I did notice how good you were with school, computers, communications with others as well as problem solving even though it was not a good example to display, which was when you were placed in time-out for getting in trouble and I told you that you could not watch television until the clock showed a specific time. So when I left the room after a little bit of time went by you figured out how to adjust the clock time hands. I heard the TV on and I went up and the clock showed the time I said and thought all was ok, however, I figured out later that night when I went to watch a program and the clock did not line up with the TV programs. I told your mom and she said what are you going to do?
I said nothing, she earned that one, that you showed how smart you were and that no one should be punished for showing intelligence.

I regret that I very little or never told you how proud of you I was or how much I Love You, but being so busy with the business, remodeling the house, and other things where I did not allocate time for the family and what you both needed. Hopefully, the times we had fun together doing amusement parks along with some other things meant something to you, that you know I did try.

I understand you are a single mom now or not with Luke and I’m sorry for that, but this is another reason I am proud of you, being able to take care of a child by yourself and put yourself through school and not just any thing, but a very demanding field of study and one that you can help others. In addition to your abilities showing courage when you went to France and the issues that I heard you had to go through while there and you overcame being robbed of almost everything including your passport.
You are strong willed and will succeed in everything that you do, I know and feel this with all my heart!

I was the first in the family timeline to get a college education, but it is minimal considering what you have achieved. My regret is that I was not able to help you with anything school related including be at your college graduation, however, I am grateful I was able to be around with your high school graduation. Your college graduation pictures shows a strong mature woman with confidence, I missed out on all of this growth process, again I am so sorry I was not there for you, but you have shown everyone you did not need anyone to progress and to continue to move forward.

There is more I’d like to talk with you about on the things I have already mentioned and more. I just don’t want this letter to be overwhelming and too long to read.
I am ready to answer all your questions that I couldn’t before until now. I am willing to do therapy together using Zoom and I’ll pay for it, anything if it will help us.

We had a bad start together in life, and none of it is your fault at all, but the story is not over, it doesn’t have to be over, we can have a better ending because we can write it together. I am trying, let me show you, try with me, give us a second chance.

I would like your permission to come visit you and the family on your upcoming birthday this year 2025. I have already done a lot of research and planning. The idea is I would arrive in Brisbane on December 18th and get settled in a hotel and if allowed I’ll change hotels to Toowoomba.

Then on your birthday I’d like to take you, Zoe, and if there is someone special in your life, all out to dinner, where ever you all would like to go since I obviously don’t know the area. Afterwards, maybe I could be shown around, tell me about some things that might be good for me to do.

Then the next day, which is on Saturday and if you don’t have to work then maybe we could talk that day, only about what you are willing to talk about or hear. I won’t pressure.

My length of stay will depend on how long you are ok with me being around and as I mentioned I’ll stay in a hotel. I will have 7 to 10 days available to be there, I had thought about exploring Brisbane & Sydney while there also, but you & Zoe come first.

I’m not bringing anyone with me, I’ll be by myself; I am single and have been since 2018, however, Patty might being willing to come if that is ok it depends on her doctors advise on her hip & back procedure. However, if her being there also would be too much all at once then just let me know, this is all on you being comfortable and not overwhelmed.

My visit will be completely respectful; I will adhere to your boundaries & rules.
I’m trying to be part of your life again and Zoe, if you’ll let me and I’m not going to jeopardize that.

Finally, I need to emphasize something of importance for you to consider, my health issues are of concerns, I’m not sure how many more times I can cheat death, my head injury, two heart attacks that is known about along with triple by-pass heart surgery, four stents in my heart, some things the doctors are still trying to ascertain, and of course my age now of fifty-seven.

p.s. I had a Domino’s Pizza, garlic bread and drink delivered to you, hope you got it.