Judy Dombrowski talked about her outings with Ashlyn. (Photo by Nyan Lynn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAshlyn and Judy weren\u2019t as talkative the first day they met back in 2002. They sat in the family\u2019s living room in silence for quite some time before Ashlyn remembered the preparation she had done earlier that day to show Judy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI was like, \u2018You want to see my room?\u2019,\u201d Ashlyn laughed. \u201cI had cleaned my room that day just to show her.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a shaky start, they began a routine outing of visiting the library, going to the food court at the Prudential, and then finishing off their day with Chinese food for dinner.<\/span><\/p>\nAshlyn revealed later that she hated the library, partially because she had some difficulty reading. English was her second language, but she would do anything to hang out with Judy. <\/span><\/p>\nEventually, they began branching out to different activities. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe did museums. Museum of Science, Museum of Fine Arts, the Freedom Trail, everything that Boston has to offer,\u201d Judy said, adding, \u201cYou know, we never did get to the Aquarium, did we?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cNo, I think we did,\u201d Ashlyn replied. \u201cI think we did once.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\nPart of the Family<\/strong><\/h6>\nEven big moments in Ashlyn\u2019s life, such as her first Communion at church and both her high school and college graduation, there was always a seat for Judy. <\/span><\/p>\n “I grew to love her just like my other family members,\u201d Ashlyn said. <\/span><\/p>\nAlthough they have been Alumni of the Big Sister Association for a few years (girls must leave the program when they turn 20), Ashlyn and Judy still meet up at least once or twice a month. <\/span><\/p>\nTo this day, Ashlyn and Judy still cannot pick a favorite activity; they always did a few different things in one day, but there is always one activity they have made into tradition. <\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019re meeting up this Saturday for a yoga class, swimming, and then Chinese food,\u201d Judy said, smiling at Ashlyn.<\/span><\/p>\nBig Sister Association by the Numbers<\/strong><\/h6>\n
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