Fleeting memories as the sewing box plays, “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” Little I was and Little did I know that she would return to her beloved sweetheart husband in a future that played out too soon.
Grandma Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box
Grandmother Eva’s Music Sewing Box
Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box
Opening my Grandma Eva’s Musical sewing box and seeing her all over and again. Returning to her apartment in Harlem. An apt that was huge to the 5 year old me. Hearing Grandma give a lighthearted scolding to her son, my Dad. Memories of a Great Day in Harlem with Grandma.
Grandma Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box
Grandmother Eva’s Music Sewing Box
Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box
Each Memory is like a reflection captured within a diamond. Precious. One glance returning you to a pleasant past event repeatedly Looped in Luxury.
As the Month of February aka The Love Month comes to an end I Honor the Sweethearts in my Life. My Grandparents William and Eva Palmer who were married for around 50 years and my parents Edward & Mable Palmer who were married for 40 years.
Dearest Sweethearts
Tell Me What Heaven is like
Come to Me in My Dreams and tell me of Paradise!
Are Aunt Helen Garcia and Aunt Thelma still as talkative as they were on earth?
It must be great that you get to see Aunt Helen James, Aunt Gladys, Uncle Clarence, Uncle Willie, Cousin Linda, Cousin Bertie, Grandma Hattie Finney. Tell them how much I miss them. Tell them my world has not been the same since they ascended to God.
Are the streets really paved with gold?
Are there 12 Gates to the City?
And What of Jesus and the Angels?
Oh How I long to be reunited with you once more!
No more pain. No more sorrow. No more hurt. To Leave the cares of this cruel world behind!
I know that I’m just passing through onto a better, richer more rewarding Life.
But one day I too shall take my seat at the Welcome Table! What a Great Day that Shall be!
My Grandmother Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer
My Grandfather William J. Palmer with some of his children in Mt. Morris aka Marcus Garvey Park
Grandma Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box
Mom & Dad
There is never a day that goes by that I don’t think of you!
I’ll See You in My Dreams!
Aunt Thelma, yours truly, Aunt Helen HS Graduation 1977
If your furniture, appliances, and other inanimate objects at home had feelings and emotions, to which item would you owe the biggest apology?
Grandma Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box
Grandmother Eva’s Music Sewing Box
Eva Sophronia Gordon Palmer — Grandmother Music Sewing Box
Pictured is my Grandmother’s musical sewing box. When opened it plays an instrumental “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.” I would guess this was a popular song in 1919 when she was wed to my Grandfather William Palmer. She passed away when I was around 5 or 6 so I don’t know if she brought this musical sewing box with her into the marriage or my Grandfather gifted it to her at one point during their marriage. I do know that when she passed away my Dad, her son Edward G. Palmer inherited it. Then when my Dad died in 1995 it became mine. Before she married my Grandmother was a Milliner.
Because I was so young when she left the body I never really got to know her well. My memories of my Grandmother Eva are few and faint. Growing dimmer as time passes yet sometimes flashes of her being enter my mind. Her musical sewing box remains a point of connection between us. Every time I touch the box or turn it upside down to wind the key so that I may once again hear it’s wonderful musical refrain sometimes I sense a touch of sadness. Sadness from the box because it is no longer touched, held or played on a regular basis anymore. Sadness of missing it’s original owner. Wondering in fear what will happen when it’s current owner ~~ me passes from time into eternity.
Lately I’ve heard the box call out to me. Perhaps a part of my Grandmother’s spirit still resides within. Maybe through this precious musical sewing box she still calls out to me that during her lifetime she had many Sweethearts. Her parents. My Grandfather, all her children including the two boys lost to polio, my Dad who was nicknamed Precious because he was the only boy to survive. Her grandchildren.
So I vow to open and play you more often. I Love you Sweetheart. Not to worry I shall make provision for you. You are forever Precious in my sight.
The Mills Brothers recorded their version of the song in the year I was born 1959.
Espiritu en Fuego/A Fiery Spirit 