Economy in Crisis: Colossal Commute

By Christine Insinga

    I know my fair share of LIRR commuters who have no problem rattling off their list of commuter related complaints.  If you commute by train, yes you're a slave to it's schedule and it's seems the fares KEEP going up.   BUT once you're on board, you have options: read, sleep, catch up on work, chat with your neighbor, or sit quietly and daydream. Regardless, if you're place of business is close enough to reach by train, chances are you'll be home for dinner or at least to tuck the kids into bed.

   I also know my fair share of folks who -- to be honest -- DETEST driving in rush hour traffic.  Is there anyone who really enjoys it?  Probably not, but consider this: let's say you could drive to work in the morning, have the road almost ENTIRELY to yourself, and then drive home in the afternoon the same way?  Sounds perfect right?  That's what Chris Ambrico has been doing for the past couple of months, but there is a catch.  He leaves his Islip home around 3:30 every Monday morning -- his wife and 5 children are still sung in their beds -- and he hits the road for a 4 hour 235 mile commute -- one way -- to Brattleboro, Vermont.  He doesn't come home again until Friday, sometimes even Saturday.  Then it's one day of good quality family time and come Monday -- it's back to grind.

   Chris lost his job on Long Island last summer.  He's worked for car dealerships nearly his entire adult life.  He says finding a job in his field was IMPOSSIBLE anywhere in the tri-state area.  As the bills began to pile up, the economy started to go in the toilet and soon the bank was telling him, give us $12,000 NOW or we're starting foreclosure proceedings on your home.  He says he had no choice but to take a position as Director of Services & Parts at Ford in Brattleboro.

   I asked him how he does it, what he thinks about during that horrendous, tremendous drive.  He prays, he tells me, pretty much the entire ride.  He says it's his faith that gets him through the day and helps him believe that this won't be a 'forever' thing -- that he'll be back home as a full-time working dad...someday.

   Want to see Chris Ambrico's entire story and meet his family?  Check out News 12 starting at 5:30 am on Wednesday, 3/25, and look for my story "Economy in Crisis: Colossal Commute."

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