Mama Loves Sweet Soul Music

On April 19, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn Jim Crow, Lynchings, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Stephen Vincent Palmer, Uncategorized2 Comments

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/papa-loves-mambo/#like-71061

Oct 7, 2015

Papa Loves Mambo

What sort of music was played in your house when you were growing up? What effect, (if any) did it have on your musical tastes?

Will There be Lindy Hopping in Heaven?

Silently. Quietly. Watching the records drop down, spin and play on the Victrola my mother Mable Palmer pondered many things. Things she kept close to her in a broken and torn heart. Blame. Hurt. Guilt.

Toni Braxton’s Lessons In Autism: “I Thought It Was Something I Had Done”

http://blackdoctor.org/486780/toni-braxtons-lessons-in-autism-i-thought-it-was-something-i-had-done/?omcamp=es-bdo-nl&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=Black%20Doctor%20Subscribers

Big Bands blasting out hits from times gone by. Long past. Sometimes happy and carefree. Sometimes the reality of Jim Crow, lynchings, separate but equal……

Sam Cooke. The Temptations. The Four Tops.

Sam Cooke — Change Gon’ Come

Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm X. Dr. Martin Luther King. Two Kennedys shot down.

Suddenly a Savior. Tall lanky Black Man from New York. Husband material. First met. Wilberforce AFB. The Bells rang at Carillon Park. Dayton Woman. Harlem man. Suave. Sophisticate. New Life. Bright Lights. Big City. The Bronx. Baseball Yankees. Baby Girl. Two years pass. Baby boy joy. Need more space. Queens move. Something’s wrong. Something’s not right with our Prince. Two years old and still no voice. Doctors. No answers. Whispers. Not so secret. What did she do wrong? Was it the tea she drank during her pregnancy? What did she do to make him “that way.”

Untold suffering. Lord I Love my child. Why is he this way? Why does he scream nonstop? Why does everyone blame me? Sorrow. Pain. Agony. Doing my best.

Years pass. Mother ~~ A broken sparrow fallen to the ground. But my son. He shines. My daughter a Redeemer arisen. My children. My joy. Now go I to my eternal rest. My Angels shall live on after me. For now there is Lindy Hopping in Heaven.

Mable Elizabeth Palmer

May 2, 1930 to August 2, 1998

See you one day once again Mommy. We Love You!!

Sam Cooke & Soul Stirrers – The Last Mile Of The Way

Proverbs 31:10-31

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

¹⁴She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth theLord, she shall be praised.

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Paid Family Leave Coming to New York

On April 2, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn A Better Balance, Autism, FMLA, FMLA Inclusion Act, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Gov. Mario Cuomo, Paid FMLA Family Leave, Uncategorized2 Comments

http://www.abetterbalance.org/web/component/content/article/49-familyleave/368-nypfloverview?can_id=6f708cddeee20a09fb78254c6be945fe&source=email-paid-family-leave-is-coming-to-new-york&email_referrer=paid-family-leave-is-coming-to-new-york&email_subject=paid-family-leave-is-coming-to-new-york&link_id=4

Victory for New Yorkers!!

Paid Family Leave will become law January 2018. This is wonderful news for all New Yorkers! As many of my long-time Followers/Subscribers well know I’ve been fighting to receive FMLA so that I may care for my brother Stephen who has Autism. Please see and read the New York Times Article. Also click on the Search category FMLA or Family Leave to see and read my previous blog posts on this subject.

The New York Times did an article on my brother Stephen and me. Please take time to read this eye opening article of our lives. Thank you.
http://nyti.ms/1BktTeP

Here is a synopsis from the Action Network.

The NYS Senate just voted to pass the strongest paid family leave bill in the country and we expect the Assembly to do the same this afternoon.

The passage of 12 weeks of paid family leave is a momentous victory for New York’s families. New York now leads the nation in ensuring that working families have access to this essential and long-overdue benefit.

New York’s families will now have access to 12 weeks of job protected paid family leavecovering all private sector workers, at a 2/3rds weekly wage benefit level. In addition, public sector unions will be able to opt their members into this program.

I’m sure many of you are wondering how does this affect Stephen and me. Well to be truthful since it becomes a Law in Jan. 2018 not a whole lot because I will be retiring spring 2018. No more begging and pleading for time scraps and leftovers. My time as a step-child from a Charles Dickens novel will officially be over. I will no longer have to choose between keeping my job and caring for my brother Stephen. Hallelujah!!

However with that being said, as an Activist particularly in my case as an Elder Activist and Autism Advocate the battle is not just for Stephen and myself but for future generations. My time in the wicked workforce is gradually coming to an end. I’m really looking forward to retirement and getting back control of my life as opposed to now where my employer has the control. Anyway the point is when we fight to change laws or get new laws enacted it may not have the impact in our lives that we wish but we do it to alleviate the suffering of other families and our community.

I remember a long time ago when I was much younger my Aunt Helen Garcia recounting the racism, bigotry and prejudice she encountered trying to get a job in New York. Yes New York! In the 1940s New York was only a few steps ahead of the South in terms its treatment of Black Americans. My Aunt Helen cried because my generation, the Baby Boomers was the first generation to benefit from the Civil Rights Movement. As I recall the stories of Jim Crow Dayton, Ohio from my mother, grandmother and Aunts I absorbed those stories and realized the opportunities available to me that their generation never had.

Now as I make a rapid approach to my 60th year on this earth I’m still out here as a walking wounded warrior but I’m holding out the baton to the next generations.

Millenials are you ready to carry the torch?

I stand on the shoulder of one of the Mothers of the Civil Rights Movement Fannie Lou Hamer.

https://dancingpalmtrees.com/2016/01/16/fannie-lou-hamer/

Millenials are you ready to pick up your swords. Have you put on the Full Armor of God in the fight for Disability Rights? Autism Rights? Caregiver Rights? Human Rights?

Along with your human genius you have the genius of technology. Young People please use those innovations for more than just selfies and sexting. There is a war going on. We need all hands on deck. Like our grandparents and parents before us one day I will pass from time into eternity. As one Watchman goes to receive their heavenly reward another must take up their post. To paraphrase the prophet Nehemiah, “I’m doing a Great Work for God and cannot come down from the wall.” Nehemiah 6

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206:10-18

Ephesians 6:10-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Whole Armor of God

¹⁰Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Even Caregivers Need Help

On March 13, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn DeBorah, DeBorah Ann Palmer, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Mable Palmer, Stephen, Stephen Vincent Palmer, Uncategorized7 Comments

I don’t like to ask for help. I pride myself on being self-sufficient and when it comes to my personal needs I almost never ask for assistance. However when it comes to my brother Stephen it is essential that I ask. As I’ve gotten older there are some things that I can no longer do and driving is one of them. That saga began with a minor stroke at age 49 in 2008 and retina surgery on my left eye in Jan. 2010. My vision is 20/100 so no driving for me. I can cope with that as New York City for the most part has excellent 24/7/365 transit service except to where my brother Stephen lives. At one point there was a city bus that went out to his neighborhood but because of MTA budget cuts that bus line was eliminated. Problem.

At first a solution presented itself in the form of Stephen’s Group Home dropping him off to me in Brooklyn upon my notifying them in advance for vacations, holidays, parties and his birthday. This solution worked well until last weekend. But you posted pictures of you and Stephen having fun last weekend you say. Yes but in order for me to get Stephen from his residence to my home sadly required a big fight with the manager/supervisor of his residence.

I am an organized person. Being that it is very difficult for me to get time off from my job I send in my requests well in advance. Once I get the approval from my workplace manager I then tell my room-mate and mostly importantly the manager/supervisor of Stephen’s Group Home. I send follow-up emails. I call to confirm. Thinking everything was in place I called Stephen’s residence on the Saturday that they were supposed to bring him to me to find that none of the direct care workers had any idea that Stephen was coming for a Home Visit.

It was suggested by one of the staff that I choose another weekend!! As you can well imagine I was getting more angry and agitated by the moment. I kept calling. They hung up on me!! Finally I told them that I was coming up there! (Don’t ask how as I don’t drive.) That scared the shit out of them and the manager finally called me. Her first reaction was to yell and scream at me saying that it was my fault, that she was sick with the flu, etc…. By this time I was heated and changed into an angry Ghetto Bitch. Yes I cursed her out. Screamed and yelled back. I don’t like to be ugly but sometimes negotiation is out and force is in. Then I told her that I was going to call her boss the following Monday. That was at 10:30 am. Stephen appeared at 11:00 am.

I managed to put away my anger for the duration of Stephen’s visit but our visit was abbreviated by another staffer who kept calling me while Stephen and I were out enjoying the Brooklyn museum. This extremely rude woman continued to call me while Stephen and I worked on an art project. She insisted that their driver pick up Stephen immediately as they were short-staffed. As a result my time with Stephen was cut short.

I called the Director about this farce last Monday and my call again tomorrow to follow up on whether he intends to speak with his staff about their poor, rude and unprofessional behavior.

Here’s where the cry for help comes in.

Finally I told God that I CANNOT do this anymore by myself. I’m tired mentally, physically and emotionally. Last year after being hospitalized against my will at Kings County Hospital I was forced into going to therapy. I told the doctors there all the problems I’m having as a caregiver and asked if there was some practical way they could help me. They said No. Well at least she told the truth. After that I never went back. Why waste my time with therapists when I need to find practical ways to help Stephen.

Stephen’s 55th Birthday Celebration

Stephen’s Birthday is May 3rd and I want to plan a small Birthday Party or outing for him. Bad enough I don’t get support from my job but to be insulted by the staff of his Residence is the straw that has broken the camel’s back. I know that I’m supposed to remain positive, not say I can’t, be angry or any number of those dumb idiotic positive thinking, love, light, forgiveness bullshit I read about all the time but all those people who say those things are me. They don’t know or care to understand what I’m going through. They have no idea how difficult it is to hold down a full-time job and care for a developmentally disabled sibling with no support from my workplace or anyone else for that matter.

Some of my paternal cousins have rejected both Stephen and I because of his Autism. They even had the nerve to say to me back in 2012 that my mother did something to make Stephen “that way.” Needless to say I Do Not speak to this branch of cousins and never will. Once you start talking mean about my mother or my brother you are on my shit list for life.

I am his primary caregiver. I have now reached the point in my care-giving attempts when I need help. Real physical Hands on assistance. I need to partner with someone who has a car and can drive me to and from Stephen’s Group Home in Bellerose, Queens. I Live in Brownsville, Brooklyn. If anyone out there in the New York City area can help me please email me ASAP. Yes I will pay you for gas. Thanks.

One Love | The Daily Post

On March 11, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn Bob Marley - One Love, One Love | The Daily Post, Sylvester, Uncategorized6 Comments

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/one-love/#like-244615

PHOTO CHALLENGE

One Love

The universe is telling me to focus on love. What is it saying to you?

Bob Marley – One Love

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Black HerStory Month

On March 9, 2016March 9, 2016 By dancingpalmtreesIn Ancestor, Ancestors, Ancestral Memories, Ancestry, DeBorah Ann Palmer, Eva Gordon Palmer, Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer, Hattie Banks, Hattie Finney Banks, Helen Garcia, Helen James, Helen Palmer Garcia, Mable Elizabeth Palmer, Mable Palmer, Maternal Heritage, Maternal lineage, Matriarchy, Thelma Palmer Varner5 Comments

In the USA March is Women’s History Month. Borrowing a phrase I heard used I Declare and Decree this Black HerStory Month. Twenty-Eight or in the case of this year 29 days is not enough to celebrate the achievements of African Americans nor do we often hear about the accomplishments or even acknowledge Black Women so I Proclaim March Black HerStory Month.

First Honors and Praises to the Our Black Family Matriarchs. Our Queens! From what I’ve been told I am very Blessed and Fortunate to have family photos from my Dad’s side dating back to the 19th century. My Paternal Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer kept meticulous records recording the name of each ancestor on the back of the photos. The one Woman ancestor photo that does not have a name is a tintype and at some point the name either fell off or became detached.

I have only a few photos of my Maternal Women ancestors as my mother’s family did not have the money to either purchase cameras or pay to have their photos professionally taken. All have now gone onto to Glory and passed into eternity but even the 19th Century Queens who I did not get a chance to meet in person I carry not only their DNA but their strength, faith and fortitude to preserve in and over all circumstances. Ancestral Memories flow through my veins.