Category: Blog Entries

Once again we were blessed with a wonderful gift to memorialize Noah. Our great friends Beth and Dave registered a star under Noah Charles Hamilton through the Star Registry. And to make it even more special, as the owner of a frame shop, Dave framed it himself. He created a black mat with glow-in-the-dark hand-spattered paint speckles resembling a starry galaxy. Even the white of the mats glow. It is a very special gift and one that will always be with us, I am so proud to have a star named after my son and I will be showing it off to everyone.

The star itself is surprisingly easy to locate when looking at the heavens. On a clear night all you need to do is locate Ursa Major (the big dipper) and go to the extreme right star which is the tail of the bear and go 90º north of it and there it is, formerly known as star “Ursa Major RA 8h 19m 10s D 63º 30º” is now renamed to “Noah Charles Hamilton”. He will forever be looking down on us. It is just such an awesome gesture I do not have words for it. Thank you so much again guys!

And as always there is always another coincidence that goes along with Noah stories. Earlier that day Sharon and I were wondering the local mall looking for an ornament with 2008 and Noah on it. There was an aisle vendor that was customizing ornaments. We almost got one, but did not see a design that jumped out at us so we passed. We figure we would know when the perfect ornament would appear and grab it. Essentially let it find us. And of course it did, by the way of other great friends of ours, Randy and Jen.

That night just before Dave gave us the Star Registry info, Randy and Jen handed us a gift. We waited until we got back to the van to open it. Wouldn’t you know it, it was an ornament with 2008 and Noah’s name on it. Even more amazing that the shape of the ornament was a shooting star! I know that when you say a wish out loud it will not come true, however I think you can guess what our wish was.

It all made us cry. We try so hard to be strong but sometimes the loss is so hard and is always hiding just below the surface. Noah would just now be getting old enough that he would be starting to crawl perhaps. I just can’t believe I do not get to see it for real, but I can clearly see him in my imagination, and I have a great imagination I have been told.

We made it without any problems, we did go through some slick roads due to freezing rain but nothing too bad. I only spotted one lost sole on the way, but found one in Cincinnati pretty quickly. It became my first shoe with snow on it 🙂

As many know, Sharon and I are actively trying to conceive. We are pretty eager as we are not getting any younger. We actually thought possibly we did conceive this past week, but mother nature did not bless us 🙁 It is so hard. I cannot help to feel like we deserve to have another child, that we were cheated. Those are the demons that come with losing a child I assume. And ones that must be fought so as not to become bitter and depressed. I believe we win most of those battles, but sometimes they do creep in. But thankfully we have each other to lift the other out of the hole. We miss our Noah so much, and now with the holidays it is that much more intense.

But the bright side I guess, is that we have hope it will happen. There is no physical limitations for us getting pregnant yet. And we do get to keep trying 🙂 I have hope it happens soon. And that keeps our chins up.

I want to take a moment and send out thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of Keri Shryock. At approximately 7:30 p.m. last night, Keri Shryock, 23, a member of Trish’s Crossroads Community Church, Xavier University student and cast member from the church’s Christmas show, fell from a suspended position during the performance. She was attended to by emergency medical personnel as quickly as possible, and was then transferred to University Hospital for medical care. However Keri did not make it. I hope maybe our Noah can find her and show her the way up there. I cannot imagine what it must be like for her family, Christmas will never be the same for them.

Well it is that time of year again, time to load up and head north. Which is going to be delayed for a day due to in-climate weather, ice storm in tennessee:( Well the CNN News to Me Show highlighted the One Shoe Diaries again and we got a lot of response, no sales, but it has been fun to interact with fans of our project. And speaking of the project, I am excited to be out and about on the highways again with the hope of finding a lost sole covered with snow! I have yet to get one with snow on it. Also one fan wrote about a show at an old barn in Knoxville and hopefully she will respond back again telling me the location of it, because I really want to go photograph it!

The weekend was also jammed packed with seeing friends and exchange holiday cheer, it was so much fun seeing everyone, we really had a great time!

Well gotta get going on the packing, and be sure and stayed tuned as we will hopefully find a bunch of shoes and have a few adventures along the way.

Well another birthday has come, and I am happy today. Getting older does not bother me, partially because I still feel in my 20s, maybe once I feel old, getting old will suck. I mean I do have less hair, don’t jump as high, my shoulder has no whip in it hardly, my ankles hurt after walking too long…wait a minute, maybe I do feel old!! 🙂 Nah.

Well the day started out early with Sharon heading off to work and both of us forgot what day it was, so I got no happy birthday that morning, but did not realize it until a few hours later when it just hit me that it was my birthday. Kinda sad but that is what old age does to you I guess. So I sent her a text telling her not to forget to tell me happy birthday to be funny. But she never replied. I then called her on her lunch break but she didnt answer. Then an hour later I called her and she still did not remember. When I told her that she did not tell me happy birthday I could tell she became sick kowing she had forgotten my birthday. I admit it did hurt my feelings, had I done that to her she would have been really upset with me. I tried to hide it, but she could tell. She felt so awful, but she had patients she had to get to so we had to hang up. She sent me a long text apologizing and trying to explain how she wanted to tell me but work and stuff got in the way. Basically excuses, but said in a sweet way that all was forgiven, I sent back a message that all is good, let’s just have a great night.

I played on Facebook throughout the day, I had posted ” Randy cannot believe he is 29 today” and everyone had fun with that one. I scanned some old photos and posted them, that is always fun. Seeing the comments are the best! I had truly gotten over Sharon missteps, and would save it for when I someday forget to wish her happy birthday because I am sure I will because my memory ain’t what it used to be, and getting worse by the day 🙂

I was out walking the dogs when she came home from work, and in that time she had set up a surprise for me when I got back. She had gotten many of my favorite things and had a balloon with it all. I was genuinely surprised. She got me a red velvet cake (my favorite), a bottle of champagne, intense dark chocolate and a pair of memory foam slippers. It was very thoughtful, and she greeted me with a hug and a happy birthday that more than made up for the earlier day blunder. I was in a great mood!

We met up with Eric, Tracy, and April at my favorite chinese buffett and had a fun dinner. We were going to go bowling but the lanes were booked 🙁 So we just headed back home and relaxed watching some TV. It was a really nice birthday.

Thank you Sharon for being a wonderful wife and friend!

For some years now I have been thinking about doing an online restaurant guide for Pensacola. I had it originally named PensacolaMenus.com but I let the domain go after the hurricane, so i picked up PensacolaFood.com. I actually like the name better, because not every listing will have a menu.

One of the reasons we are creating it is because we have quite a few restaurants around the area we li9ke to eat at but they seem to be hurting for business and we want them to stay OPEN! So we have made it very affordable, possibly too inexpensive, but that is what I do. I dont have a good track record for big money making businesses. I tend to help people more than i should.

I built the site and have been getting it ready for its debut. We launched it just around a week ago and have currently 3 establishments signed up, but have a feeling it will go over pretty well from other responses.

So if you are reading this and from Pensacola area please help us get the word out. And for everyone I invite you to go to PensacolaFood.com target=”blank” and check it out, any tips, opinions or ideas, please let us know. We are new to this and it will continue to evolve.

Over the past couple of days there have been some tragic events. The terrorist attack over in India and a car accident closer to home here in Pensacola. While one is larger and resonates on a larger global scale, the deaths here during a car accident are easily looked over in larger news, but both are involve the loss of life for no reason which makes them both tragic.

 

The two events have a connection for me as they both involve a lost sole. As I watched the news where they detailed the events that took place in India, one survivor described the details of her exit from one of the hotels that were under terrorist seige. She spoke of being rushed down a hallway by armed commandoes, she noticed blood everywhere. She mentioned she was so thankful for them having removed the bodies so she did not have to see them, but one thing she will never forget was a lone woman’s high heel that sat at the spot where its owner was shot down. A lost sole I am grateful to never have seen although it would make for one powerful image, an image photojournalists live to get. So in that, I do wish I could get that photo. Not for the morbidity of it, but for the documentation of a tragedy. To humanize the event, to help bring it to reality, to let people around the world connect to the event on a relatable level so maybe it would help people realize the brutality of this world. To maybe even help people relate to those that were gunned down, not as some far off foreignors, but human beings just like us all. We are all connected, we are the world.

Then not long after the terrorist attack, the local news told the details involving the car accident. A man had gotten really drunk at a downtown Pensacola bar and got into his car and chose to drive home. He ended up going the wrong way on Pensacola Bay Bridge and running head on into a car driven by a father of three. Both men died on the scene 🙁 And as the news is showing footage, the camera at the scene pans from the crash to a man’s shoe lying alone on the ground with the lights flashing in the background. Another iconic image that I would not like to take a photo of, yet feel compelled to be able document it.

To me there will also be something haunting about a lost solo shoe, something that seems out of place. Hence why I am still inspired to photograph them at any chance I get.

The time had come to take down the crib and store away all of the baby stuff we accumulated. It was so hard for us. It is the reality of Noah never being able to sleep in his room we so lovingly prepared for him. We had so many items in there that are so special to us, hand-picked from many people who wanted to give Noah something from the heart. I knew it would be hard to pack everything away, not only because we had to acknowledge Noah would never be there to sleep in his crib or stare at his toys, or listen to me red his books to me, but also killed a little bit of hope in us. The hope that someday it would get use as a baby’s room. That we would someday get to be the parents we so want to be.

We are currently going to use the room as a “zen” room. Where Sharon can practice massage therapy for select clients. We are going to make it a peaceful room, perfect for getting away and reflecting on life. The room always had a soothing and calming nature to it, but even more so since it was Noah’s room at one time. It is weird, it never had a sad feel to it, or one of loss, but always had an uplifting aura to it.

So we have now taken a big step towards moving forward. There is still a wall which will always be Noah’s wall. We have many of his things on it. We will never let him out of lives, he is forever entwined with our souls. I just hope he gets to have a little brother or sister to look over.

As many of you know we self-published a coffee table type book titled “The One Shoe Diaries Vol. 1: A Journey Across America, One Shoe at a Time. Well a few months back I began writing Vol 2. At the time I titled it Friends, Family and Lost Soles, I did not realize how appropriate the title would be. It was meant to culminate with the birth of Noah, but instead has become a dedication to him. It was the hardest story I have ever had top tell n my life, but at the same time, it is the most awesome story I have ever had the pleasure of telling. Everyone who reads this blog most likely knows the whole story already anyway, but if you have not, or want to read it in the book download the free eBook located here >> Both books, as well as other merchandise is for sale through that link as well. Please realize as self publishers of a 56 page full color book, printing is not cheap so the price reflects very little profit, we hope to bring the cost down if we can get a real publisher. If anyone can help us with a lead, please let us know.

People always ask if there will be a third. That depends on if we are blessed with another child, if not, I think the Diaries will be put on the shelf for a bit. Not sure if the inspiration will be there. Losing Noah really took its toll on my zest for creating art. Finishing the book was all for him.

Also many of you reading this are referenced in the recent book, either by a photo, or in a story. If I left anyone out I sincerely apologize as I value everyone’s friendship and we are thankful for all of our friends and family! I hope you enjoy reading about us and the magical events that happened to us. We do not like to call them tragic, because everything happens for a reason, and we truly mean it when we say…
Having Noah was the greatest blessing we ever had, we would rather live it all again, then to have never had him come into our lives. Noah wherever you, we mommy and daddy love you and hope you come back to us.

Our poor friend Alice went in for surgery this past weekend on her neck and the last time we visited she was miserable. I was really amazed how poorly her care has been in this day and age. Especially since she was at the “Best” hospital in the area. Sacred Heart Hospital likes to think they are the leader in healthcare in this area. Maybe this was an isolated event. But as far as I can see, they REALLY need some improvements. For instance, she went into surgery on Friday and as of Sunday her surgeon has yet to even check on her. She has no idea how the surgery went. I thought doctor’s were supposed to check in right after the patient wakes up. Didnt he just get paid thousands of dollars by her insurance company to perform the surgery? The least he could do is ACT like he cares! And also, the fact when she was moved to a room, she was put into a bed with fresh blood stains on the sheets!!! How does that happen?!?! There were quite a few other instances of poor healthcare but I will not get into them. Needless to say I am still shocked at what I witnessed there.

The best thing that Sacred Heart did was having a Wendy’s on location so Sharon could get Alice a frostie which sshe was so looking forward to. I must apologize to Alice as well. I had joked with her concerning all of the time she spends at Doctor’s offices and hosptials that I was going to create a website titled AlicesAilments.com 🙂 She thought I really was going to do it and had been checking for it to come online. But in light of the recent events, maybe I should have created it, so to shed more light on the short comings of the HealthCare industry.

And after seeing all of that, Sharon and I became so much more thankful for the incredible care and treatment we received during Noah’s traumatic ordeal, Albeit at a different hospital, we still got treated sooo much better at Baptist. They took care of us as if we were royalty, or better yet, as if we were family. Thanks again to everyone there that helped us through a horrible time in our lives.

On another happier note, Sharon and I have taken on building a new business, PensacolaFood.com. I can only hope this one will pay off, we have high hopes for it as were are not intending it to get us rich for success. I just wat great participation and visitor traffic. At the very least it can serve as a great advertisement tool for my HamiltonArtAgency and other clients. I think it will all depend on going into salesman mode and going door to door, what a horrible task. That means we are going to have to visit as many restaurants as we can 😉 And we need people to help spread the word for us!!

I am going to come out and say, I voted for Barack. I think he is the answer from the choices we had. Now will he suddenly make the U.S. perfect…I dont think so, but we have to hope someone can make it better than it is right now.

Sharon and I were so excited and nervous on election day. We went early to vote and it was kinda anti-climactic. There was no line, no magical moment. But we did cast out vote towards a new day. On election night Sharon had to teach a class so I was watching the results come in alone. I decided that I wanted to go somewhere to share this historic moment. I remember just down a few blocks from us was the Pensacola Obama headquarters. Located in a black community the energy there was electric. I met several nice people as we watched state by state results come in. Everyone was a little cautious and on edge. Sharon got finished teaching at 9 so she came down to meet me there to see the decision. It came so quickly after she arrived, before I knew it California, Oregon and Washington went blue! And it was over, Obama clinched more than enough electoral votes to win.

The small crowd erupted with cheers and tears, we could not help but get emotional with them. The look of hope and pride on their faces was overwhelming. It is was a very unifying moment. Change was truly on its way. This was another moment in time I will always remember. Everyone was silent and very respectful as McCain spoke, he did an admirable job. I do believe he is a great man, and would have done a great job as president. I just did not think he was what this country needs to get the world on our side again.

I was very proud to be an American. I still am, but it got tainted a bit with all of the ignorance and hate that came out that night and still today. The racial remarks were reprehensible that I heard. My fellow Americans that accuse Barack of being a terrorist are out of line. The attempts to demean him for his color step over boundaries of decency. The image I heard about of the statue of liberty with an Aunt Jemima hat on was deplorable! When is this nation ever going to realize that we can never be great until we rise up as one to abolish the ignorance and hatred that is still very prevalent in our society? Some of my white friends are angry because they think black people voted for Barack just because of his color and not on the issues he stands for. I cannot deny that. But trust me, MANY whites voted against him just because of his color and name. And for the record, over 60% of his vote came from white citizens. People bring up his ties or contacts with terrorists, but how is it, that everyone overlooks the fact that the Bush family is business partners with Osama Bin Ladin’s family!!! Why is that alright? Ignorance, ignorance and ignorance. It has to go. Many white people claim to be superior, they claim to be more intelligent and civil. Well if that is true, why can’t they stand up and set an example and not draw the race card?

And as far as socialism, come on guys. Speaking and reacting out of fear is never good. And also he giving everything to the poor from the rich. He is giving tax breaks and credits, not handouts. If a person does not work, they do not pay taxes, so how can they get a break on something they do not pay anyway? Plus Reagan’s greatest achievement he thought was created the EIC, Earned income tax credit for people who work hard but are below poverty level still to help them out. He was a republican that everyone hails as a great domestic president. I think it is so wrong to see people want Barack to fail, just because of his color and name. Those would would be happier to see him screw up, than to see him succeed, even if it means that America gets better. So if you would be even the least bit happy to see him fail because you voted that he would, you are being petty and selfish. There is only one true American and patriotic choice now. That Barack succeeds beyond anyone’s expectations and makes America once again a beloved and looked up to as a Nation that is a beacon of hope and freedom.