My View From the Road

MY NEWTOWN:
It was only about 2 weeks ago when Stacy and I had been back to Newtown to visit our old neighborhood. On the ride home, I said that if there was one place I would want to move back to, it would be Newtown.

My first job out of UCONN was in Newtown and I quickly fell in love with it’s quintessential New England charm. It was much different then. Very rural, very quiet. It was perfect. My wife Stacy is a native of Newtown and her family goes back generations.When we first were married we lived in my hometown of Fairfield but when she became pregnant with our fist son, Chris, we decided that Newtown was the place we wanted to raise a family.

We lived in the perfect neighborhood. A set of 4 cul de sac’s that formed an ‘H’. Most of the original owners had either moved on or passed and the majority of the homes were occupied by us “30-somethings”. Again–it was perfect.

Our kids all grew up together, we all did things together. Halloween consisted of the dads taking the kids, with a wagon carrying the cooler full of beer, up and down our little neighborhood then everyone getting together at someone’s house for a night of fun and family. When there was snow, we helped each other plow and shovel driveways. There where neighborhood cookouts where both young and old gathered to enjoy each other. There was no judgement, no expectations. Just being together.

There were other times when someone needed help, whether it was to jump start a car, borrow a cup of sugar, or even build an addition on a house. Whatever it was, you just knew that the neighbors where there to lend a hand. Without hesitation and expecting nothing in return. It was perfect.

The parade, the tree lighting. The friendliness and sense of community. It was all perfect.

I realize that times change and perfection may never be achieved but this has torn deep into my heart and soul.

I want to be back more than ever.

That’s right! Today is the first leg of the Tour de Tweeps 2011.

And what is the Tour de Tweeps you ask?

Well, here is the short version. I was introduced to Twitter by my wife @stacyreck a few years ago. At first, I was reluctant to log on to something that I viewed as a waste of my so called  precious time. Within a few weeks, I was hooked!

I was amazed at the interactions and drawn in by the flow of conversations. I felt a connection to each and everyone of my ‘followers’ but there was something missing. And that was the actual ‘face to face’ (F2F from here on out) connection. So, I boldly proclaimed one evening as Stacy and I sat side by side ‘tweeting’, that I would begin my mission to meet as many followers F2F as I possibly could.

I travel–a LOT! But typically alone and for business. This year I have to attend an industry trade show in Chicago in August. I have always wanted to bring Stacy along so this year we started to plan.

And then it hit me. Why not take a few extra days and DRIVE to Chicago and stop and meet Tweeps along the way! Then the more I got to thinking, why not drag Stacy along on some other trips and turn my typical solo journeys into opportunities for us to meet more tweeps F2F.

So there you have it. The story behind the ‘Tour de Tweeps 2011′

Today Stacy and I will be traveling to Portland, ME to attend our dear friend @DanaMoos‘ book signing. Dana is an amazing person who has just had a cookbook published, ‘The Art of Breakfast, and we are excited about seeing her again! And more importantly, having her cook us breakfast at the Pomegranate Inn! LOL

Who else will we meet? We don’t know. But that is all part of the fun for us.