Letter Reply to Mark Kelly

 Dear Mark Kelly,

Thank you so very much for your very personal and positive response. I can only tell you how incredibly surprised, grateful and inspired I am by your letter. I am on your mailing list and I read your update letters all during the Helene storm and ensuing calamities as it impacted so many people in vastly different ways and degrees. During those times I felt like you were making a very real and genuine connection and commitment to all of the people of Western North Carolina. When I wrote you my letter it truly was a leap of faith on my part. I thought at best it would be ignored and at worst I might be risking some kind of retribution. I simply want to repeat again how much I love America, Our Democracy, the Declaration of Independence and the full Constitution of the United States of America. My daughter, now aged 46, gave me a gift where I tell my life story based on prompts. The first was what was it like growing up in Demarest, NJ.  My answer in a nutshell was it was wonderful. My grandfather was a builder and several of my relatives lived in a little part of town called Tintletown. My uncles were in the fire department and Grandpop was the Chief of Police. I had great friends and we were good kids, riding our bikes and playing in the woods. When I turned 17 I got my drivers permit I learned to drive. When I was 18 I answered the draft but I was 4F due to an injury I got while skiing in the woods. At 21 I started voting and I’ve voted in every election since fully believing that however small, my vote was counted. This is the America I grew up in, this is the America I love and your letter has restored my faith in America. Thank you for your dedication to North Carolina and to the sovereignty of Our Democracy and for showing the consideration and taking the time to write this letter to me and to others who might be feeling the concerns we are feeling during these times.

My wife Tess recently passed away which is why I now sign off as;

Sincerely,

Pete 🤓 and Zeke 🐶