Author Archives: Perry Hamilton

There were only a few things for teenagers to do for recreation at Stewart on a Sunday night. One was going to the Teen Club to dance. There were usually a number of songs to dance to, “Ben”, a creepy song about a rat by a young Michael Jackson, “If” by Bread, and “Color myContinue reading “The Base Youth Group”

January 24, 2021 I remember having to call my parents and telling them that not only had I skipped school, but my buddy and I were stranded on the other side of the mountain. A storm was coming in. We were busted. But first, a bit of the backstory. Being a transplanted southern boy, NewContinue reading “Skipping School to Go Skiing”

The Dance Contest Our family moved to New Windsor, New York, a small village outside of Newburgh, in the late summer of 1975. The music world was upended in the 70s. Disco was king, and I was a 125 pound, athletically challenged kid who had red hair and a southern accent. Our new home wasContinue reading “The Dance Contest”

January 6, 2020 What began as a small water fight between friends morphed into a 38-year cloak and dagger tradition. It has been played out on several continents by prominent members of the government and no government associations, a United States Congressman, a U.S. ambassador, an Arlington Virginia fire captain, and many other recruits andContinue reading “The Water Fight”

During my sophomore year at Southern California College, now Vanguard University, I had the opportunity to travel to Australia on a short-term mission trip. My knowledge of geography was severely limited back then. I did not know that it was summer during our winter here.  I didn’t even know  Sydney had beaches. The price ofContinue reading “Australia”

In 1975, as a parting gift from the Chattahoochee River towns of Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama, was a new Kawasaki motorcycle. Our family was moving away from our generational hometown, Columbus. We arrived in New Windsor, New York, about the same time that Jimmy Carter, a nationally unknown Georgia governor, announced he wasContinue reading “The Motorcycle”

December 20, 2020 As a kid, we looked forward to going to downtown Columbus, Georgia, at Christmas time to see the beautiful window displays, but more importantly, to see Santa Claus. According to my parents, the only real Santa was in Kirven’s Department Store. The other Santas around town, including the one at the newContinue reading “Santa and the Secret Place”

As a kid, growing up in Columbus, Georgia. I remember buying a Christmas Tree each year and decorating it together. We have continued that tradition in our own family. It brings back warm memories. I even flashback to visiting a friend’s house. They had this silver monstrosity that was lit up by a color wheel.Continue reading “The Worst Christmas Ever!”

“You can’t go home again.” Is a phrase that I have heard countless times. There is some reality to that statement, but also there is some truth. I grew up in Columbus, Georgia. The houses that we lived in had rooms that were unfurnished. My recollection of shuffling my socked feet in our sunken livingContinue reading “You Can Go Home Again”