Friends,
One of my favorite things that I do each year is my walk across Connecticut.
I’ve been doing it for the past four years. I keep doing it because I think it’s my job to be as accessible as possible to the people I represent. And when I meet people in a baseball cap, a t-shirt and sneakers, folks tend to drop their guard. They start telling me things about their lives that I am not sure they’d share if they saw me in a suit.
I just wrapped up this year’s walk on Friday — 101 miles over five days going from New Milford to Noank. Maybe you followed it on social media or maybe we even ran into each other along the way.
Today I wanted to share a bit of what I heard and saw along my walk.
Day 1
This awesome group met me in New Milford to help kick off the walk.
I met all sorts of people along the way, including this group of young campers who shared their concerns with me: ending youth smoking and animal abuse.
Day 2
I met Ricky, a driver for Guida’s. He wanted to share his opinion on Trump’s meeting with Kim Jong Un: “I don’t know, just looked like a photo op to me.”
I ran into Mayor Bob, who’s serving his 44th year as Mayor of Prospect. He was busy responding to a reported gas leak (that’s right, he’s also a volunteer firefighter).”
Town Hall time. We put this event together last minute, so I was really glad to see a packed room at Cheshire Public Library.”
Day 3
I sat down with my hero, John Carlson — a college student and Middletown resident. He beat cancer and has been an outspoken advocate for the Affordable Care Act. I’m grateful that he’s chosen to speak out.
I also stopped at a new farmers’ market. I had no idea that this even existed, but thanks to the walk across Connecticut, now I know!
Day 4
The first person I met on day four was Maria, a Mexican immigrant, a resident of Essex, and a proud American. She’s heartbroken about what is happening to people who are coming to America today to seek a better life.
It was a good reminder that many of us are here (including me) because up until 100 years ago, America essentially had open borders. My ancestors fled poverty in Europe and showed up here unannounced. They weren’t locked in cages, they were welcomed by a generous nation.
After crossing the Connecticut River on the Baldwin Bridge by foot (my first time!), I met Roselle and Sue who were heading out on their kayaks. They had strong feelings to share about the President’s military parade (to put it mildly).
I was getting hungry, so I stopped for lunch and a cone in Old Lyme at the famous Hallmark Drive In.
Day 5
Interrupting people’s pleasant outdoor summer brunch is just part of the job description on my walk across Connecticut. This is the wonderful When Pigs Fly Cafe in Waterford.
These guys gave me an earful about the overcrowding at the New London homeless shelter and the importance of building a second chance society.
Thanks to the crowd that greeted me at Esker Point Park in Noank at the end of my 5-day, 101-mile walk across Connecticut.
Every year the walk inspires me to work harder for this state l love, and I hope it shows people how grateful I am for this job.
Every best wish,
Chris
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