I took photos of this particular bathroom inside the Brooklyn Historical Society May 2014 because I Liked the fixtures. Quaint and Old Fashioned. Nostalgic. Reminded me of something from the old TV program, “This Old House.”
Brooklyn Historical Society
Brooklyn Historical Society
Brooklyn Historical Society
Brooklyn Historical Society
Here is a Link to this wonderful place. It is another favorite place for Stephen and I to explore. Great Exhibits!!
With your answers, please remember we are in the SYW world which may not always match our reality.
Would you travel into outer space?
No!! Never!! Terrified of heights. Bad back! Bad stomach. Poor digestion. Barf City!! Ugh!!
Which country/city in the world (that you have never been to) would you most like to visit and why?
London. Would like to visit The British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum and the Tate Modern.
What could you do to breath more deeply today?
Not much. New York is having a heat wave. It’s been 100 degrees for the last several days. I’ve already taken two showers and am trying to stay inside with both the fan and AC going. Drinking ice water. Breathing techniques have never worked for me. Meditation and mindfullness do nothing for me. I’m probably the only person alive who has been going to a Buddhist Temple for five years with little or No effect! I’m extremely high strung, nervous and have a lot of anxiety. That’s just the way I am. However if somebody would give me $50,000 so I could take off work for six months I’d be very happy!
mentalfloss.com
Complete this sentence: This creamy peanut butter sandwich could really use some …
Jelly.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Grateful that last weekend I got to spend time with my brother Stephen. Also met up with a friend that I had not seen in a long time.
Can’t say I’m looking forward to anything this week. Just hope that I make it through the workweek. My job is very stressful.
“Street Art Utopia” website Spoof of the Gleaners by Millet
In this Go-Go World of being your Personal Best, working out, exercising on a daily basis, winning on all accounts being Super Woman when all you want to do is crawl into your bed and sleep My world has gone slowly. Especially as I’ve gotten older. Whether you want to or not your world slows down as you age. Your body changes and things you did with ease while in your 20s, 30s & early 40s are difficult and in some cases impossible.
Forget the 100%, Lean-in, and all the other bullshit of supposed non-stop success. Of course I have hopes, dreams and goals but there is also reality. The reality of work. Having a job that takes up most of my life whether I like it or not. Being that I’m not rich, wealthy or filled with resources I’ve made peace with the fact that more than likely many of the things I wish to accomplish will never come true. I can live with that.
Also I hate being “On” 24/7/365. Why should I put on a false face to people who are supposed to be my friends. If I can’t be real with you well Fuck it and why bother.
But there is satisfaction in accepting Life as it is. I no longer have the desire to knock myself out or Go Hard as they say in Brooklyn. As much as Quitting and Giving Up is maligned in the last few months I’ve given up a whole lot of things. Mostly other people expectations of what my Life should be. People don’t like the words I can’t but I’m not one to continue Living a Lie saying I can do things that I know I can’t do. Also Life is short. Why waste it on unattainable goals.
Recently a woman who I once considered a friend, someone to whom I had poured my heart out to about my challenges, the abuse I had suffered as a young woman, my history of domestic violence, my physical and emotional challenges just negated everything I had to say. She kept saying that I could be an Inspiration to other Women, that I was Chosen. If I had any of this hidden potential I would not have been hospitalized for two weeks last year, I would not be sick or in pain 90% of the time and I’d be financially independent instead of in the hole scrapping together coins in hopes of making it through the next week. Being her friend was like banging my head against a brick wall and wondering why I had a headache.
Well needless to say after I realized that she had an Agenda about what my Life should be she has been downgraded to acquaintance. We don’t speak except to say Hello or Good Morning. I’m not nor do I want to be an inspiration to anyone male or female and No I’m not Chosen by God or any other entity to do something special. I’m not special or unique.
Slowly I’ve lost faith with friendships, expectations and relationships in general. Major reason I stay to myself. Trust erodes so easily.
I’m just and all I ever want to be is a regular person trying to live my life. The only person I’m dedicated to is my brother Stephen. The only reason I’m on this planet is to give Stephen the best Life possible. He is my motivation for Life. As for anyone else I owe them nothing. Let me make it plain. I don’t owe you jack-shit!!
I stopped being on a Mission to please other people. Whether I author a book, have a photography show, maybe. Maybe not. If it’s meant to be it will happen and things will fall into place. I’m no longer disappointed because I realize that some dreams remain that. Just dreams.
I unsubscribed from all the Life Hacks. Life Coaches. So-called therapists. Non-stop 12 Steps to Happiness plans. What you need to do or be to succeed. And all the other bullshit I see coursing across the Internet. These jerks are not living in my world, walking in my shoes nor do the know, contemplate or even begin to understand my story or my song. Not that I care what they think because basically all that they say goes in one ear and out the other. I’ve stopped listening. I leave the Rah. Rah. Rah. Life to the younger set. I’m tired.
I’m done with people telling me what to do or how to live my life. Get lost. Unless your life is perfect why should I listen to you?!
Who knows? Maybe in ten years if I’m still alive I’ll be walking along a deserted beach somewhere kicking cans and rocks along the sand satisfied.
Paint a picture with words, capture someone on film, sketch a face in the crowd — this week, share a portrait.
Paternal Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer
Eva Sophronia Gordon born 1891. Married William Junius Palmer January 1919. First child Stanley born September 1919 died of Polio. Daughters Helen, Thelma and Eva all Lived. Eva’s twin William born 1922 also died of polio. Her last child my Father Edward Gordon Palmer was born 1930. He was the only boy to survive. His nickname was Precious.
I often wonder how my grandmother coped with losing two of her children but I suppose in those days there was little time to grieve plus eventually other children to care for. My Grandmother was a member of Mother Zion A.M.E. church so I’m sure that gave her comfort.
My Grandmother Eva was my Grandfather’s second wife. His first wife died and he needed a wife to care for him plus his first set of kids. My Grandmother needed a husband so as the story goes it was arranged for my Grandmother to cook my Grand Dad a meal. Must have been a good meal because they got married and stayed married until the early 1960s when they passed away.
Funerals tend to present you with unexpected family information on or about people you never knew existed. In May 1995 when my father Edward G. Palmer passed away I encountered some cousins I never knew I had. What shocked me was the man telling me that we were related was a tall white guy with blue eyes!! Then the stories of my Grandfather’s first wife began to make sense and the reason why he had a sudden departure from Petersburg, VA. His first wife was white! All during my childhood I had heard how my grandparents took in these kids, white kids but as I grew up that made no sense. Jim Crow was the law of the land and Miscegenation (whites marrying Blacks and vice versa) was a crime (Miscegenation Law was not abolished until 1968). I suppose my grandparents had to come up with some kind of story so that’s the tale I was told. It also explains why he never discussed his childhood or young adult years with my Dad. Some things are better left unsaid.
My Grandfather died when I was very young so I have no memory of him and very little of my Grandmother. I was around five or six when she passed away so my memories of her are faded, distant and dim but I always try to hang onto our trips into Harlem to visit her. This has imprinted on my mind. When I think back I can still see her apartment and envision the living room, kitchen one of the bedrooms and some of her furnishings. It’s very important to keep those Memory Portraits fresh in ones mind.
Again in 2010 when the last of the Greatest Generation my Aunt Helen Palmer Garcia made her passage to the other side I met more of these “hidden” cousins. Unfortunately even though at that time I exchanged information with them we have not stayed in touch and I moved in 2012 so it would be difficult for me to find them or them to find me.
As we gathered in Aunt Helen’s church for the repast someone took a photo of our Rainbow Family but like everything else on my hard drive it has decided to hide. When you see my relatives we truly are a mixed race mosaic of America.
My Dad Edward Gordon Palmer as a child in Harlem. This photograph was taken by famous Harlem Renaissance Photographer James Van Der Zee.
James Van Der Zees former Photo Studio
James Van Der Zees former Photo Studio
James Van Der Zees former Photo Studio
Grandfather William Palmer with his children 1922, Mt.Morris Park, Harlem, New York.
Grandma Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 