Joey LaLicata

I don't think that anyone but you can remember all the places I have been and went or things I saw, the driving and bike/trikes/jetski's/motorcycles/boats, you name it you and I have done it together.  God Joey it is a wonder how either of us survived as we did without being shot or killed  Of course then there were the times of somber silence when just watching a movie and not talking didn't seem strange to us.  It used to be fun to sit and watch and not have to talk.  The peace was good even though out brains were screaming, lets go dance, it was nice to be able to just sit back and enjoy the time.  I remember in 1984 when we met how we would go to the clubs dancing and drinking and hanging out at your house.  I remember Kim and I telling you that the "GUN" was no loud enough while we were trying to shoot out the stop sign near your house on 36th street and you dragging us in and shootinng the 9mm inside which of course was more like the sound that we were lookling for..  Thank GOD we were horrible aims and not shooting into crowds of people..  The craziness all came with it though...  I used think "we are so lucky to have such popular friends"... Of course then came along Kelly who tried to run us over crossing the street when going into a night club...  Or Renee and her boyfriends White Caddy trying to hit us while going down the embankment infront of your 36th street house.  Not so cool anymore...  I remember girls hunting you down and following us all to the different clubs that we hung out at..  Then came Kyra...  She was different then the others and you finally met the "Love" that you really were looking for.  She was the good girl and you made sure to take care of her, although you were not always the best boyfriend, I knew that Kyra would be with you the rest of your life.  You were always the fun one and had the bestest of idea's like going out on new years eve and taking a case of Miller  Lite Cans to throw into the snow as they would dissappear once they hit the ground...  I am still trying to figure out why that was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUNNNNNYYYYY???  Or you putting on one of my fur coats and Nina's glasses for your comedy routine that only Nina and I would get to see...  You made me LAUGH so hard I nearly peed my pantsssssssssssss....  Or the itme when, welll I had better NOT write about that time, but it was a funny time...    You made me laugh and you made me cry, but no matter what, you ALWAYS were there for me and I for you.  I feel so mad at myself for NOT being in WI with you when you died Joey.  I am sure I shouldn't think like this, but wonder if maybe you would still be here if I were there???  I know you wanted to be here and wish I would have just booked the ticket you had  asked, but I can't change what happened or I would not be writing this on here.
I love you so much Joey LaLicata (ok Joey) and if there was a way I could change places, I would do it in a heartbeat.

I love you,
Tricia Ann

 Some Days I still go to call you and check in or when I think of something or a song that I KNOW you loved to listen to I wanna hear your voice. I only hear it in my saved voicemails now.  I would LOVE to hear you call and scream about one person or another.  I miss your voice and you making me laugh..  I am so sorry that I didn't listen to you when you called telling me you REALLY needed me to come back..  It is the BIGGEST regret of my life.  I think that the reason I never could was because it was hard enough for me to listen as they broke down your door and the screaming that I can't get out of my mind...  I remember it today like it is happening right now...  I miss you so much my friend and confident.  I wish that the truth had come out before you were gone and that no hardfeelings would be there, but I can't do anything about it now...  I will always and forever cherish you and your friendship and even though I can't change the past try to redirect my life today.  You taught me so much and I will always and forever remember you Joey......   I wish I never got that call and that I didn't move back here maybe I could have made a difference....  I can't think about that now as when I do, I only think about the what ifs and they are not there now..  If only I had answered that night and not have said I will call yu back in the morning...  If onlys I will NEVER know...  But I can live my life and make everyone proud - Love and Hugs - Tricia Ann

Joey,

I remember all of the holidays, shopping, wraping gifts, staying home and not wanting to celebrate them at all. I remember bringing you food as you were hungry, but did not want to come for the holidays.  Then in 2005, I came home right after James died, you had bought the NB home and only lived 2 miles from me so you decided to stop over and have fun with my family...  You had every laughing at your jokes and antics...  Johnny had a new sled and we actually had a bit of snow, so you went out in the back and tried his sled out.  Of course by that time you had your own and Johnny had fixed it up so it went REALLY fast..  That was funny as well how you tried to back up the trailer into my parents drive way so that my dad could help you with your sled..  You guys had just gotten the truck/trailer up the driveway and the sled inside and the hood open when Johnny burst through the garage door and said, get out of the way, grabbed the sled and had it fixed within minutes.  We just all sat back and watched as Johnny was reallly good at fixing those things. Of course he should be as he did it for a living and raced them for all those years.  Then there was the time when, actually TIMES when you came to watch Johnny race.  We had such a blast....  You froze your butt off course you didn't dress warm enough.  I had my uncle start his truck and we sat in that during the ovals....  Gosh that was sooooooooooooooooo MUCH fun...  You had a blast..  So did I... I have so many memories, of course those do pile up after 28 yrs of friendship..

I miss you and wish you were here to make us all laugh today.

Hugs and Love,
Trish :)

 

The day we crashed your boat on Big Muskego - 2000 -We were having a GREAT time that day.  It was sooooooooooooooo nice out and we got up and had an early morning of it with Danny...  Oh yes, Danny........  Later that day would prove almost deadly to us all, but at that time, it was just fun..

I can remember getting there and going to buy all of the cleaning supplies and of course a few Zima's.  That was always our drink of choice, till this dreadful night.  I remember taking over 9 hours to get the boat cleaned and of course drinking our Zima's...  Boy I miss them...  But not what happened NEXT!!!

After we finally got the boat done and it was now dark, about 9-9:30pm, 6/29/2000, we hauled the boat to the dock and decided to get in and take a ride.  I remember you saying, maybe we should wait till tomorrow.  I was the one saying, oh no, lets go for a spin.  By this time we had been riding in boats/yachts together for nearly 15 or so years, so this just felt like another time out on a lake. 

I remember sitting in the passenger seat, you were driving and Danny was in the back.  I remember going down Bass'Bay and to the supper club turning around heading back towards your parents and turning around to do it again... 
We turned around and headed back to the opposite side of the lake turned again and started back towards your parents land.  This is where it gets kind of y for me.  I remember you saying, oh oh and then I remember waking up under the boat yelling for you.  I remember Danny getting me out and yelling for you again I could not see you or hear you.  Finally you came up from under the boat.  Thank GOD...

I remember just sitting and hugging you and thanking God you and I survived when all of a sudden I heard this HUGE BURST, TIL this DAY I can still hear it.  The boat and bog we were on went up into flames and we were standing in GASOLINE....  I remember thinking, OH MY GOD, It;s gonna BLOW UP...  It did but not like in the movies.  I jumped off and swam as far away as I could get before I started to feel pain in my legs.  I did NOT realize I was burnt at that time.  Thank God the neighbors were watching and were there to help us.  I was pulled onto a pontoon boat and hauled to the opposite side of the lake, to the supper club.  I was greeted by the staff there as well as the paramedics.  I would NOT allow them to touch me till I saw you on shore as at that time I did NOT know where you were.  I remember you walking up to me at this time I had ice on my legs and you looked like someone put swiss cheese on your arms and chest.  It took me a few minutes to realize that it was your skin falling off of you.  

We were wisked into an ambulance and I remember you sitting on a side seat, I was on the gurney and Danny next to you.  You have ALWAYS been a VERY Tan man, that nice, all the color washed away from your face and you passed out.  I can still remember the paramedics putting smelling salts under your nose to wake you up.  At that point I remember my mom being in the front seat of the ambulance and wondering how she was there as she was not on the lake with us... 

Next I remember getting to Waukesha Memorial and you and I telling the ER that we "Instisted" on being in a room where we can be together.   They put us on gurneys across from each other.  We were given Morphine and lots of ointments and guaze and sent home with our families.

I remember the next morning waking up and feeling like garbage.  I worked at Waukesha Memorial at that time and having to have off of work cause I could not move that well.   I think that night would have taught us that we should not drink and drive, but of course that only lasted for a few days.  I remember on 7/4/2000 you already had a new boat, a Pontoon Boat.  That boat was a LOT of fun and even though we both LOVE to drive fast,  at first we took things slow...

Fast forward to 2008 when I moved back to WI from FL and you bought your yacht.  I LOVED that Yacht and LOVED to Drive it..  Thanks so much for all of the fun times we had on the boats/yachts/bikes/cars/etc.... I miss my BEST Friend and KNOW that even though you are in a peaceful place, you will be there when I too get called home.

Love and Peace my BMF - Tricia Ann

 For any of you that didn't get to know Joey LaLicata, you missed out on knowing a VERY kind, special man.  He tried to help alll people no matter what.  I have so many memories of Joey but ONE in particular keeps on popping into my mind lately.  He an I were at a neighborhood local club.  We walked there from his house, and only planned to be there for a short period of time.  I remember dancing, laughing and cracking jokes, well his cracking the jokes he did that better than most paid commedians.  I remember a man comig in who was there quite often.  Joey always was nice to him and he came up and sat down on the other side of me to have a drink.  Now for those of you who were lucky enough to get to go out dancing with Joey KNOW that he an DANCE...  He pulled me up and stirred me to th dance floor, but not too far away from this man who joined us at the bar.  I can remember Joey grabbing my arm, twisting me around and traded places with me and before I knew it he was punching some guy while using his other arm to stop this guys girlfriend from hitting me...  This all happened because earlier in the week Joey was there with some frinds ad saw this guy (the one he punched) saying mean things to his friend who was sitting on the other side of me.  Apprently Joey must have known the looser was going to come back and he wanted to be ready plus kept me safe as when he took me to the dance floor, I was NO LONGER in danger of being hit...  When we were walking back home that night I asked Joey what happeed?  He told me th story of how this guy had come in and was picking on the little guy & he HATED Bullies...  Yep, that is true, Joey hated bullis  Since that night onMANY different occaisions I saw Joey stand up and protet those who could not protect themselves...