Boom Generation/Hippie 1946 -1964 Space Exploration/ first counter culture
I’ll revise the writing prompt to Eating out with Dad. My Mom Mable Elizabeth Palmer cooked so we rarely ate out. Too expensive. My earliest memories of eating out with my Dad Edward G. Palmer was our weekend forays into the city (Manhattan) I grew up in St. Albans, Queens, New York. Daddy took me to a restaurant called the Automat, where you’d put your money usually a quarter into these vending machines and get yourself sandwiches, desserts, snacks, drinks etc… I remember if one of us having to watch the table if the other got up because if you left your food unattended either the Automat workers would take it or the homeless. I just loved those vending machines and making my selection.
Here is more information on this old-time New York eating tradition.
My little Thanksgiving mini-vacation is coming to an end. I’ve been off from work since Thanksgiving and I had a great time being with Stephen and my New Jersey cousins. That was lots of fun. Always great breaking bread with those we Love.
Friday Stephen and I spend a rather quiet day together and Yes I had him outside walking with me on a Soulful Strut. He rather enjoyed it. Stephen had a big smile on his face as the two of us pumped arms and legs strutting proudly like peacocks along Fulton Street in Brooklyn. I did not make him walk too far and we did stop so I could purchase him some much need clothing. So he got some goodies out of the deal as well as exercise. When I retire Spring 2018 I will be taking photos full-time.
I Love My Soulful Struts. Part of my inspiration for taking long leisurely daytime strolls aside from my doctor telling me to exercise was reading the book Wanderlust: A History of Walking by Rebecca Solnit. Excellent book. I highly recommend reading this book.
Every day I tell God and the Universe that I want to be able to do my Soulful Struts five days a week enabling me to not only get much needed exercise but present me with more photographic opportunities. As many of you know I have a Photography Blog called Roaming Urban Gypsy and that’s what I am, a Roving Street Photographer.
My Dad Edward G. Palmer was an amateur photographer. He used to have his photos made into Kodachrome Kodak slides. I still have the slides many dating back to the early 1950s in my closet. Let’s hope they are not dissolving!! Dad also specialized in Black & White photos. This was back in the days of film and having to get that film developed. Daddy had a great day of expertise and would have made an excellent photo-journalist.
I Love taking pictures of my Beloved New York City then showcasing them on Roaming Urban Gypsy. Whenever I’m in photo mode I feel so happy, joyful and centered. Anytime I’m doing either writing or photography I feel I’m in my Purpose, my reason for being. Also the walks exhilarate me. I can feel those endorphins pumping me up! Walking exercise and taking pictures gives me a peace of mind and a sense of creativity.
Allow me to share the gems of my photographic excavations!
French National Anthem – “La Marseillaise” (FR/EN)
My blogging buddy K.B. who lives in Paris is safe, alive and well. He is grateful to all Americans for their prayers, encouragement and support.
I totally disagree with the hate towards France being spewed on Facebook!! Yes we all know that France was a Colonizer back in the 18th and 19th Centuries but the people alive today, the people maimed and killed in those horrible attacks have nothing to do with with what happened centuries ago. Yes we do need to learn and heed the lessons of the past. Colonialism and Slavery must continue to be taught in schools so we recognize wickedness and choose another path. On that note yesterday I left a group that I thought was about the positive because of the evil statements made against France. People who return hate for hate are little better than the oppressors.
Winston Churchill – We Shall Never Surrender (Full Speech)
Governments often make problems that make others suffer. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents went through racism and Jim Crow but they did not hate this nation, their country. As a Black woman I experience bias, racism and bigotry often but that does not give me the right to lump all white people in the same pot as an excuse to hate and spew venom. As a Christian I represent Jesus Christ so I can never do this. My spirit and soul do not allow me.
Love Train [Original 12″ Version] – The O’Jays (1972)
Many of those murdered in France and on the Russian airplane blast were innocent children. Hatred solves nothing. We cannot go back and change the past. Also keep in mind on 9/11 many French, European and other nations supported New Yorkers and Americans. Being Pro-Black does not give me the right to be anti-white or anti-European. Why? Because the Love of God and His compassion is in my heart. Most people of color have experienced bias and bigotry in some form but I refuse to deny aid, support or prayer to those in need. I pray for everyone. I’m still praying for the innocent Russian people killed in that airplane explosion. Hate is divisive. Please do not use this tragedy as an excuse to incite or fan the flames of hatred. I wholeheartedly and unashamedly support and stand with the people of France and victims of terrorism worldwide! Show Love to all.
I know what it is to be treated with the wide brush of stereotypes.
Working with the general public can be a challenge and if you’re a Black Woman wearing a uniform, a uniform that designates a form of authority more challenges come your way.
My Great, Great Grandfather William Henry Halstead left his life as a Free farmer and joined the Union Army for the benefit of his enslaved sisters and brothers and for his descendants unseen and yet unknown. But maybe he did know that Stephen and I would reap the benefits of his sacrifice. My Dad Edward G. Palmer left City College and joined the Air Force to fight for an America that did not even consider him a man but duty and honor came first. Thanks to the sacrifices and Love from my ancestors my generation of Black Americans became the first generation to benefit from the Civil Rights Movement. I’m carried on the shoulders of giants.
My Mother, Grandmothers and Aunts rose above the indignities of Jim Crow.
Sadly some look at me and see only color or gender. I’ve been approached by white males thinking that I’m a drug dealer or available for sex. Obviously I had to set them straight. They needed to be firmly re-educated.
But I’m more than race, nationality or gender. Like most people on this earth Black, Brown, or white I’m a human being of complexity. That’s why I had to speak out against vile remarks being leveled at the French people. God created people. Humans created race & divisions.
I’ve come to think that the reason God placed me in the museum was to root out my preconceptions, illusions and delusions about people of other faiths.
Over the almost 8 years I’ve worked there the Ladies and Gentlemen I’m closest to are Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu & Jewish. By being around and in close contact with co-workers outside of my faith I’ve learned a lot and mostly not to be judgmental. I’ve even visited their Houses of Worship and learned that these faiths are not so different from Christianity. If I had been born in Iran, Egypt, Bangladesh, India, I would be a practitioner of that faith. We are all people who want the same things in life.
One God. Many Paths.
Earlier this year I spent two weeks in the hospital. The reason I’ll keep private but the person who visited me and took me home is Gay. Again another lesson of acceptance. Every time I’ve prayed for help God sent someone from another race, faith, gender, or sexual orientation to assist me.
I could lower myself to the level of bigots, haters, slanderers & spew a fountain of venom and vindictiveness but I choose not to. I choose if not to Love everyone but to at least to respect all people regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation. When I make mistakes or say the wrong thing I go back and apologize. Nobody is perfect but these errors in judgement provide me the opportunity to examine myself.
I’m sure as I make my way towards March 2018 and retirement God will have even more Life Lessons on my path towards Enlightenment.
Happy Veterans Awareness Month!! In the United States Veterans Day is this Wednesday November the 11th a day where we Honor those who served our beloved country America. Remember to Thank the Vets in your Life. Give special shout-outs to Women Veteran’s who are often ignored. Thank you!
Reason why I’m giving Special Shout-Outs to all the Women Veterans out there!! Several years ago when I was still living in Queens I attended a Sunday worship service in the church across from my home and during the course of the service the Pastor asked all the Veterans in the congregation to stand. Of course I stood up. He was shocked to see a Woman Veteran! He actually said Wow a Woman Vet! Now this took place about 4 or 5 years ago. Mind you he was and still is a great pastor but it underlies the problem of the church and women and in particular Women Veterans. It should not come as a surprise to have Women Vets in your congregation. Women have been serving in the military from America’s inception. Church Leaders, it’s time to recognize, acknowledge, honor and salute Our Women in the Military!
I give special Honor and Thanks to the Veterans in my family who have passed on. First and foremost my Dad Edward Gordon Palmer who served during the Korean War and my Great, great Grandfather William Henry Halstead, Connecticut Twenty-Ninth (Colored) Regt. C. V. INFANTRY who served in the Civil War. Proud to be a descendant of a 29th Colored Regiment Warrior!!
Edward G. Palmer Korean War1978 Augsburg, GermanyDeborah Ann Palmer U.S. Army 1977-1981William H. Halstead name as inscribed on the Colored Soldiers Monument in Washington, DCWilliam Henry Halstead Headstone ~ Sleepy Hollow
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Tattoo….You?.”
Do you have a tattoo? If so, what’s the story behind your ink? If you don’t have a tattoo, what might you consider getting emblazoned on you skin?
Number of Tattoos on my body. Let’s see so far 9 and counting. I plan to get another one soon. Two devious demented Hello Kitties (One is a Dominatrix), tramp stamp (really hate that name), a dolphin, my Mom’s name Mable on my left arm, a Cross and me and my Dad’s image on my right arm, a Black Panther on my back. After my parents died I wanted to honor them so I got tattoos in their memory. No I’d never tattoo a boyfriend’s name on me because those are temporary relationships.
I plan to get a Semi-colon on my right arm because my story is not yet over.
I really Love Tattoos but I will never tattoo my boobs, hands, neck or face. Why tattoo boobs when in a few years they will be sagging lower than some of these kids pants and as for exposed body parts, well to be honest I need my job and they stipulate that our uniforms must cover all tattoos. I will also NOT autograph the junk in my trunk because that too will also succumb to the ravages of time and gravity.
Piercings are cool as long as don’t have so many that you set off metal detectors from two blocks away! My ears and belly button are done. Thinking of getting a small nose piercing. As for the naughty parts I really don’t see the logic in having non-stop orgasms. I prefer to sing opera with a handsome Chocolate brother in the privacy of the bedroom not 24/7/365!
I will continue to decorate my body temple as long as my skin canvas remains smooth and supple!
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 