Walk Across Connecticut — Day 4

In case you missed it, I decided to walk across Connecticut. I started in Killingly near the RI border and ended in Danbury. Check out my recaps from along the way — Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 5.

Today felt like one giant mobile town hall. Dozens of people came out to talk with me and walk with me, sometimes all at once! I had to really hoof it to make it to my town hall in Newtown, but it was worth it for all of the great conversations I was able to have along the way.

Here’s the full recap —

Another twenty-plus miler done. Luckily, this was the last really long day. Tomorrow’s 10 miles will seem like a cake walk in comparison.

Maybe you don’t need to see a picture of my feet at 6am in the morning but I’m pretty proud of the tape job that’s gotten me through 75 miles so far. Day 4 starts now.

I met Sev this morning in Waterbury. He’s going to school to be an electrician but having trouble affording a degree.

Zach Brown (not the NFL player or the guy with the band) opened this repair shop earlier this year. He seems like an earnest young go getter.

Stopped into Lena’s Westside Deli for an egg sandwich and some conversations.

Not sure I should take the fact that Fox 61 News is following me around this morning with their “Storm Tracker” as a compliment…

All these kids who didn’t know each other just happened to find me at the same time. Impromptu town hall!

Lots of stops along the Middlebury Greenway Trail means I need to pick up the pace so I can get to lunch on time.

Every semester I have lunch with our interns to thank them for all of their hard work. Our current bunch of summer interns joined me for a great lunch at Patty’s Pantry (get the fried chicken). I gave each of them a copy of my favorite book.

I talked with Laura in Southbury about her solar panels. She installed them two years ago and they’re already paid off and cut her electric bill in half. “I don’t know why everyone doesn’t do it,” she says.

Feel like this is a just a town hall w really sore feet. In my las hour in Southbury over a dozen people found me on route to walk and talk. Amazing.

My heart skips a beat as I enter Newtown.

My view coming up the hill toward my town hall in Newtown.

We had an incredible turnout for my town hall in Newtown — 500 people came out!

I got some really great questions at tonight’s town hall in Newtown but the best one was probably from a six-year-old boy named Kenneth.

He bravely stepped up to the microphone, introduced himself, and he asked me, “How can we make America kind again?”

And it reminded me of a conversation I had with my oldest son Owen a few months ago. We were sitting out on the porch and were were talking and looking at the stars and he looks at me and he says, “Dad, what’s the point of all this?” Talk about a big question.

And what I said to him was that when it all comes down to it, I think the point is to be kind. And to try and make things better for one another. And to help people.

And sometimes we can do that with our vocations, and I certainly try to do that as a part of my job. But we also do it in how we treat each other every single day. By taking care of each other, by trying to put ourselves in other people’s shoes, by trying our best to be kind.

This week was a harsh reminder of the ugly and unkind impulses that still exist in our country. But my time spent walking across the state this week has reminded me over and over again of the real kindness that exists in people.

I said before I started this walk that I had a feeling it would help restore my faith in humanity — and it has.

I’ve got just 10 miles until the finish line, and I’m ready to hit the road tomorrow.