Another secret revealed... one of my photos is appearing on a new Oprah Winfrey Network show!!!

 

                                  Small Town America ~ Main Street Hamlet, NC style! 

I can *finally* let the cat out of the bag about my pretty little photo above.  It's part of the open for a brand spanking new reality show just now premiering on the Oprah Winfrey Network called Carson Nation.  The premise of the show is that Carson Kressley travels around the USA to give make overs to very deserving individuals.  Talk about a heart warming and wonderful thing! 

Anyway... my pretty little photo was discovered on this very blog by a designer with the Farmer-Brown Production Company in Los Angeles sometime back in February of this year.  They wrote to me on Valentine's Day to see if I was interested in allowing them to use it for a new show which would soon be appearing on the OWN.  The subject line in their email simply said, "Beautiful photo".  This immediately caused me to scratch my head and wonder which photo?  Which blog?  Was it here on All Aboard Hamlet?  Or, on my home blog, Project Rewire, as both contain a volume of what I call my therapeutic photography?  Being such a shutterbug, I actually had to ask for a link to the photo.  As soon as I saw it, it was easy to understand why they thought it would "look perfect representing the type of small town America that Carson visits".

As one who believes in promoting Hamlet any way I can, it's not an opportunity I would turn down.  So, of course, I said, "yes, absolutely"!  How could I not agree?  I also made sure to run it by Hamlet City Manager, Marchell Adams-David, to see if she would be on board with the idea of a glimpse of Main Street Hamlet appearing on the OWN.  And she had no hesitation, nor reservation whatsoever.  Admittedly, I was a wee bit concerned about the scaffolding appearing in the image beside the Lackey Building.  Scaffolding that was ironically used during the historic building's extensive exterior restoration aka make over to bring it back to its original beauty of yesteryear.  In fact, it was actually the shot I took to mark the ending of the project as I'd followed the progress from start to finish.  Even though I knew it could be easily edited out, it was nice to know the photo appealed to them in spite of it.  As I've had people with critical eyes point the scaffolding out to me, as if I wasn't aware it was there.  No, it was not a faux pas.  I'm very deliberate about what I shoot.  It's all part of the way I use photography as a rehab tool.  Always.  And evidently, as well as thankfully, not everyone is looking for the perfect photo edited picture.

This whole thing is kind of ironic and amazing to me all at the same time, when thinking about Hamlet.  Since it's been going through a very needed and much deserved make over of its own.  It's not done yet, but it's getting there, slowly, but surely.  The fact that a designer out in LA stumbled across my blog and discovered just how perfectly my pretty little Main Street Hamlet photo represents small town America is nothing short of a miracle to me.   Other than post my blogs entries on Facebook and email them to a handful of locals, I don't really promote it.  So, the happenstance has made the experience especially remarkable to me.  Add the fact that someone with a keen eye at the Farmer-Brown Production Company saw, what I see when I look down Main Street Hamlet from the Hamlet Historic Depot & Museum brings me much joy.  Yet, it doesn't surprise me.  I've always felt that sometimes those of us from the outside can see more clearly than those of us on the inside from the potential to the beauty... to the beauty in the imperfections.  The latter of which is a constant theme in this blog.  

To say this whole experience has put a big smile on face is an understatement.  I'm beaming not because my photo was discovered, but because Main Street Hamlet will be seen every single time that show airs!  And maybe, just maybe others will see what I see and appreciate, too!

And just fyi... I gave them the rights to use the photo for free.  So before the rumor mill even gets a chance to begin no one needs to be thinking I made anything off of this.  It's a sowing good seeds thing for me.  As I commented a few times recently to people who believe I should be doing something they think I should be doing," hey, thanks, but I free lance for free at the things I want and enjoy doing...".  Things I believe God puts in my heart.  Most of which involve heartstring ties for me, or I believe will make a difference.  And by doing so, cool stuff like this happens out of the blue!

As for Mr. Carson Kressley, some of you may recognize him.  He's an Emmy award winner, celebrity stylist, fashion designer, show host and author.  His dream is to make over the world!   And with Oprah behind him, his dreams very well may come true! He's man who puts feet to his dreams and he's proven it over and over again!

Here's the sneak preview of show that aired on June 25th!

Where in the USA Carson Nation Goes First!

Since this ties to Project Rewire and in a way my own make over process since picking up a camera to help rewire my brain a few years ago, I'll be cross posting this news there, too!

Lastly, about my other little secret, which I shared on June 1st in my entry entitled "Who Wants to Know the Secret?" since I'm not one to steal someone else's thunder, all I can say is stay tuned. The North Carolina Weekend spot will be airing soon.  In fact, much sooner, than later.  Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming press release to be written by Kelli Easterling in the Richmond County Daily Journal.

A handful of "then" shots of the Lackey Building; a remnant of a once saloon...

 turned into a pharmacy...

The Lackey Building has been begging for attention. It now knows that its steadfast patience is paying off.  Soon, it will be totally restored with improvements to make it better than ever.  An investment that will benefit the owner and the community.  One of several which will indeed bring vitality and pride back to the close knit southern town.  What could be sweeter?

Some of the pics strike me as poignant for some reason.  I guess its the romantic in me thinking of days gone by before my time, when truly things were much much simpler.  It could also be because I'm such a pie lover!  Ha! 'Cause I sure would have loved to have a slice of homemade pie from way back when.  How about you?  And yes, for those of you who've caught on to it, I saw much beauty even in the areas that needed some serious hands on loving care.  All kinds of beauty.  But, to say I'm loving the new and improved version taking it back to its aesthetic glory of yesterday, is an understatement.   

Rather than sharing photos individually, I'm embedding a very quick slide show.  My original plans were to post an accompanying slide collection of "now" shots, too.  But, my hopes are for someone or someone(s) visiting the upcoming Seaboard Festival might just be inclined to snap a few pics to share here.  If not, be sure to look up at the fine detail work that's been done to re-create and restore missing pieces.  If you're anything like me, you'll find it all too too amazing! 

Note re. the period chalkboard like signage.  It was created for the movie Billy Bathgate, which was filmed in Hamlet and released in 1991.

As the righthand side panel states...

"I see beauty in the imperfections for without the contrast against perfection, how would we ever recognize unblemished beauty when we see it?

Take time to look up into the heavens and in between the sky and the tree tops and roof tops. There are blessings to be seen and captured. I take comfort in watching the clouds during the day and the starry night skies. Something I can always share with my loved ones far away, is the sky. My view may be a bit different, but whenever I look up, I know that a heavenly sight is above them, too.

Metaphorically, it's important to look up in spite of whatever life throws at us. Much in life comes down to attitude and perspective."

A view looking west up from 2 Main Street, Hamlet - October 24, 2010 - 4:35 p.m.

At the moment, I'm going to focus on perspective.  Not how you view things, but how *I* do so you can get to know me.  And secondly, because I don't know how *you* view things, yet.  Plus, views are better shared in first person as they create the foundation for common ground to be discovered and maintained.  We are all different, so what captures my attention, may not be anywhere near what captures yours.  Like most photogs, when I take pictures, often I'm selfishly into focusing in on what appeals to me -- what my eyes see and/or what catches my fancy.  I like snagging details others may not see immediately.  Or, happen too quickly to be noticed.  I like taking rapid progressive shots of movement, but detest being hampered by programed burst shot settings.  So, I don't use them.  I like taking still shots and waiting for nature to cooperate with me is no biggie.

I have a handful of favorite subjects.  Of course, it goes without saying that one is Main Street, Hamlet and along with it, its evolution to rebirth.  As well as the landmarks and surrounding areas close in proximity.  From the Hamlet Historic Depot & Museum to Main Street Park and Tornado Building to points North, South, East or West.  This could mean the tracks, or the trains traveling along the tracks, or Hamlet Crossing, itself.

 
I don't at all claim to be a photographer by any stretch of the imagination.  I don't even consider it to be a hobby.  Yet, it is an extension of me.  I don't care at all for the confines of composition.  I actually enjoy having a skewed rebellious perspective.  Meaning what I see as beauty some may just shake their heads and wonder "is she crazy?".   And to be perfectly honest, my brain the way it works now -- or doesn't work now, has a difficult time hanging on to camera settings and such, so I don't even try to any longer.  In a nutshell, I just have at it!  Having said all that though, I enjoy taking pictures and sharing them.  Snapping photos is a very personal and actually comforting activity for me, because whenever I'm looking through a viewfinder, I feel better than my usual normal.  It's like laughter, it's quite good medicine and has literally helped re-hab and rewire areas in my brain that needed some tweaking to make connections work more cohesively.  Hopefully, as the community embraces this blog and partners with me, we'll get to see what captures *your* attention.  Whether it be in photos, or in other avenues, my hope is for it to be viewed as a comfortable safe haven to share.  In the meantime, the blogging is up to me.

So, back to my take on "perspective"  using late yesterday afternoon as a prime example.  I'll start off using an interesting photographic object lesson on the visual merits of Kudzu.  Tell me what you see.  In this case do you see it as the invasive "vine that ate the South"?  Or, do you see it's cosmetic attributes similar to that of a green vegetative snow like I do?

Kudzu covered trees, weeds, fencing is akin to snow effects,
but just lasts much much longer.

Something to ponder?  Yes, no... maybe so?  It's part of what I pondered once the Kudzu captured my eye and caught my fancy, yet again.  Admittedly, I went seeking various contrasts and examples of seeing "beauty in the imperfections".  So, when we arrived late yesterday afternoon at the HHD&M around 4:30 p.m. instead of our usual popping our heads in to say "hi" thing, Steve and I along with our most recent rescue Springer, tiny Roxy, meandered around the surrounding area.  I wanted see what touches Autumn was making to the area.  I had my little flying point 'n shoot camera with me, as I often do, and the conditions couldn't have been more perfect for snapping photos.  The sky was a vivid gorgeous Carolina blue.  The clouds were just a glorious mixture of white fluffies with light dove gray to dark almost steel gray hues.  The Autumn sun was beaming brilliantly creating diagonal rays across the southern sky and brightly reflecting off of Main Streets' old timey rooftop "skyline".  It dappled through the trees as it danced upon various weeds and expansive Kudzu growth giving them a nice dose of vibrant natural highlights.  Nearly blinding at times when not tempered with the sky blues, and earthly yellows and greens.

One of my most favorite subjects for Summer and Autumn are the old "T" telephone/power poles that run behind the backside of Hamlet.  I hadn't spent any time this past Summer enjoying them, so they were a welcome sight.  To me, the Kudzu adds a lovely lush lacy trim to the cross like structures which never fail to remind me of Calvary.  They are also subtle reminders to me of hope and faith -- that Hamlet is anything but God forsaken.

 The dying leaves act as a natural intricate frame
surrounding the Kudzu cross in its entirety.

 The Kudzu cross looks small here,
yet it's not quite overshadowed, by its friend the big tree. 

 The Kudzu cross has an important job in stringing we people together upon its lines.

 To me, the poles look much less intrusive against the beauty of the sky blanketed and laced in Kudzu cover.

Next time you catch glimpse of one a Kudzu covered pole, 

you may see it with new eyes.  Or, maybe not...

In closing...

Steve and Roxy did a lot sitting and waiting, while I did a lot of wandering and snapping.  Every few minutes, or so, I'd take a break and sit on a bench beside them.  The benches  up and down Main Street, and in front of the HHD&M are placed conveniently and were very much appreciated by we three.  Give them a try some time as you ponder "seeing beauty in the imperfections".

Needless to say, I had a lovely time, looking up, looking over, looking through, looking in between, looking up close and, of course, beyond, too.  How do you know when you've looked beyond?  It's when you see things that would normally be considered unattractive, or down right ugly.  However, with the right lighting, the right angle, the right perspective, or framing, their beauty strikes you out of the blue, and perfection can be seen.

I have a few more examples of yesterday, which I'll be sharing very soon, so you're invited to stay tuned.

The story behind this blog...

Anyone who walks or drives down Main Street Hamlet, North Carolina, most assuredly can see it, and certainly, with or without rose colored glasses.  A new improved City of Hamlet is obviously emerging.  Scaffolding can now be seen up and down Main Street as a few buildings are getting a long awaited face lift to renew them to their youthful appearance of a century plus 9 years ago, or thereabouts.

On the historic Lackey Building, craftsmen are delicately casting missing pieces of ornate trim work, as if they were highly skilled and talented plastic surgeons. Their handiwork is filling in spots top to bottom which were lost to decay over a century long and very slow process.  Amazing brand new parts have been recreated and cast in fiberglass, rather than in mortar or concrete.  Which I've been assured by one of the experts on the job will way out last the originals.  The old facade is being renewed with touches like new eyebrows being placed again atop windows which had been hidden forever to re-dress them up as they deserve. And filigree-like missing trimmings are being crafted and painted in a lovely gold finish to live side by side perfectly filling in the gaps to their original counterparts.  They fit so perfectly, it appears as if they were painstakingly handwritten in calligraphy.

Painting is also ongoing to take the buildings back to rich period-ish color schemes.  Honestly, I literally teared up with excitement and joy when I first saw the work being done on the old Lackey Building.  I'd visualized it being renewed for some time now, and have watched the progress over the past five months.  But, to see it coming alive again, really touched me.  Plus, what I visualized paled in comparison to the real thing.  The only glimpse I'd ever seen of it in the beauty of its heyday up to that point was in black and white photos from long ago.  And my childhood memories aren't much different than the way it looked a few short weeks ago.  That building has always captivated me and I've taken many pictures of it during the course of the past couple of years.

To some residents and passerbys, it may appear that the renovation of Hamlet began a year ago last summer when the new planters, and their partners "the benches" were installed.  But, evidence of the rehabilitation and preservation of Main Street Hamlet was first seen back in 2001 when a temporary railroad station was put up by the City of Hamlet and Amtrak to take care of passengers during the prep and move across the tracks and restoration of the town's beloved "1900" Queen Anne Victorian train station.  At that time the visionaries saw the badly needed station restoration as the catalyst to spur economic development which would one day put Hamlet back on the map.  As is always with true visionaries, the future was vividly seen years earlier, but such an endeavor takes time, patience and intricate planning.  Finally, metaphorically the stars aligned and a plan of action was put into place with very deliberate steps taken to make it happen.  Baby steps turned into major strides.  The very first glimpse of this phase in my mind began when those new planters and benches popped up along Main Street a year ago this past summer.  It was at that very time I actually came up with the idea for this blog, its name, and grabbed it on Blogger.  It's been sitting waiting silently for me to give it life, as I've been observing both the subtle and more obvious steps to transform Hamlet.  And to be boldly honest, waiting for the right dose of inspiration.  Well, that happened very recently when a delightful kindred spirit graciously crossed paths with me.  Up until then, it's been a period of watching, and waiting with oodles of anticipation.  Then, the Lackey Building's facade restoration progress further signaled that it's the right time to birth this blog.

Now, the above is only part of the story behind what has compelled me to author such a blog about Hamlet.  There are elements that make Hamlet's renovation very personal to me, which I shall share now...

Since I was a small child, Hamlet, North Carolina has been a meaningful place to me and more than just a special town.  It holds a piece of my heart where fond memories live of loved ones gathering from all across the country at my grandparents home.  Back then, it was almost magical.  It holds memories of riding trains from the Seaboard Airline Railroad Station in Portsmouth, Virginia to Hamlet, North Carolina.  My mother and I were always greeted by my granddaddy and uncle along the tracks with flashlights in hand to swoop us both off the train during the wee dark hours of the morning after midnight.  The passenger car we traveled in was known as the "Tidewater" car and was always the last car, so it never quite made it into the train station area.  We'd see my uncle's car with headlights brightly beaming first and in a matter of a couple of minutes, off we were whisked to their home.  Needless to say, it's been quite sad to lose a good part of our family here and also to see Hamlet's steady decline over several decades considering the memories and stories it has collectively held for my family.   

A few years ago after Epilepsy struck me, I was at a place where I'd lost parts of myself.  At that time to help re-tap into the core of "me", I set out to reconnect with the generation of cousins that exists within the generations of cousins/kids my mom's siblings had.  With eight children in her family, the stair step ages covers over fifteen years.  I was the only girl of six kids born into a bit of baby boom of "boyness".  A period of about three years in the early 1950s.  The me I was, was gone and it was tough adjusting to the new me and finding my way.  I realized early on that I could no longer rely on my past accomplishments to boost my confidence, or gauge myself by my former capabilities, skills, or talents without suffering the consequences of feeling defeated.  I had to figure out whom I was now.  And certainly, I couldn't gauge myself based on a number of neurologists' opinions, diagnostics and failed treatments.  It wasn't "as if" my life had changed drastically overnight -- it indeed did.  A great deal of my independence and freedom, went away along with it.  The essence and spirit which makes "me" me needed some reminders of its roots.  And the experience of reconnecting with my cousins (who are really more like the brothers I never had) gave me some of those key reminders.  As always, my goal "then" when Epilepsy struck me and "now" as I'm still adjusting to it, is to never allow it to totally overtake me.  This is a thread on Project Rewire I come back to again and again, but here more or less will be the evidence, that it hasn't overtaken me.  There are times, admittedly, I must give into it, but good things can come of it.  Monday and Tuesday of this week were such days, but to help me push past and through, they became the right days to finally work towards bringing this blog out of hiding.

Since Epilepsy struck I've depended on the Lord to direct me in unique ways to help rehab myself, and give me a purpose again.  One thing I did a little over two years ago now was to begin blogging to help restore some pesky word retrieval and vocabulary issues.  There is no need to go through all of that "here".  It's on Project Rewire, but a part I've never shared there, I'll share here because it's part of my Hamlet ties story.

So, back to the upside of brain mis-fires and reconnecting with my cousins, most definitely, the reconnecting has been a blessing to me.  There is one in particular where we share some like interests, and passions.  Heck, if there were a twin version of cousins, we'd possibly be an example of it, sans the oil mixing with water boy cousin vs. girl cousin thing.  Around the time I began Project Rewire, I'd reconnected with him and within a a few months, I found myself reconnected with Hamlet, too.  For many years I'd been too busy with my career and responsibilities to find time to do anything interesting locally, such as walk down Main Street Hamlet like I used to do with my granddaddy.  Or, even visit the newly restored Hamlet Depot.  The closest I'd gotten to it was trips to the old Hamlet Post Office, where I'd climb the worn steps, remembering the days I'd go with he or my uncle to pick up mail from their P.O. Box "128", which the Monroes had for what seemed like forever.  (Isn't if funny how short for "forever" truly is sometimes?)  Then, one day out of blue I decided it was time to snap some photos of the Depot and surrounding area to show my cousin how things had changed since we were little kids and his last visit here in 1982.
 

Dusk was falling, but a light turned on inside me.

He had to put up with my photos, because in comparison to the shots he takes, as a more perfection oriented photographer, mine probably made his eyes sore.  However, the stories I began sharing captivated him to the point he actually said I should consider recording them one day.  Now, that was a compliment and an idea of epic proportions was birthed. It put a dream into our hearts, and him on to a new career path.

Anyway, it was a gorgeous Autumn afternoon for my husband, Steve's and my first visit there.  Much like it's been the past few days.  As I walked around the Depot building snapping photos, I was instantly enthralled and transported back in time by it.  I was also very much smitten by Main Street Park, as well as Main Street Hamlet.  But two simple things, brought me back to myself in a way I hadn't experienced since who knows when.
 
First, there's an area beside the Depot where "memory" bricks have been placed in tribute to various individuals and loved ones.  Many of which were railroad people; my granddaddy and uncle Monroe, included.

Just seeing their names hit me like a ton of bricks and reminded me of my railroad roots.  But, what hit me like a lightening bolt was standing on the railroad tracks not too far from where the two used to meet the train my mom and I journeyed upon from the Seaboard railroad Portsmouth, Virginia to attend our family reunions.  It was as if both had scooped me up like they once had to remind me of the strength that resides in my mom's side of the family.  All of we women are very strong individuals.  That strength along with the strength that comes from my dad's side, in joining my strength, and the strength the Lord gives me, gave me even more reason to push past and through.

It's been a journey of a different type since then, and I've learned some hard lessons along the way.  Yet, I continue to remain smitten with Hamlet which is obvious to those who know me around here.  And the same can be said of my husband, Steve.  When I reconnected my heart to the Depot and to Hamlet, it inspired a fondness for both within him, too.  He loves train watching now, as much as I do.  So, it's become another special thing we share in common. 

Now, as a Depot Historic Depot volunteer and one of its newest board members, I'm filled with enthusiasm.  I'm not at all about what "can't be done", but about "what can be done" and I see a wonderful future for the HHD&M as a key attraction to bring more and more visitors and tourists to Main Street Hamlet. 

As on my Project Rewire blogging endeavor of late, I've had to go backwards to catch up to now, more than a time or tow.  That's partially because I actually have more of a life now than I have had in a very long time.  Well, the same will hold true to a certain degree in All Aboard Hamlet, too.  There will be a key difference.  Some of this blog will reflect how the hands of time are aesthetically being turned back as historic preservation efforts and projects to restore the City of Hamlet to its original beauty of yesteryear are being completed.  And, as a community oriented blog, my hope and prayers are that others within will freely contribute their stories and memories of their heartstring ties to Hamlet.  Those that live here, or elsewhere.  I also know without a doubt, I'm not the only one challenged by an illness, or disease, but persevering to be triumphant with ties to Hamlet.  Such stories will always be welcome here, too.  On another note, I'm very open to sharing this blog to promote the talents of locals who may not have a web site, blog, or other "net" avenue to show case their various "art" mediums.  In addition, if a fun event is happening in Hamlet, why not call "all aboard" here?

Seaboard Festival 2009 - A Community Working & Having Fun Together

I've deliberately kept the format very simple to read and to encourage contributors.  Please feel free to email me at the address indicated on my profile should you have questions or have something you would like to contribute here.  I can also very easily be found on Facebook under "Jeanne Holland Newton" and at our brand new Hamlet Historic Depot & Museum Facebook group.

Thanks to all for being first readers of All Aboard Hamlet.  Hope you make it a habit.  Please do consider following and sharing to make this a successful community blog.

Next entry will spot light the birthday of a very special Hamlet Historic Depot & Museum volunteer. 

And note, this blog is very much a work in progress.  I may be tweaking the color scheme and settings, as well as adding content and images to the right side panel in the coming days.