Yes, Angie -- Suzy is right. You have a wonderful memory for the "telling detail." Please write more -- you have an audience! And I'm sure that Jeff and Karen realize that the stories are what helps us make the historical bare details from census, birth and death records into real human beings. Your memories -- that's Rosie's immortality, and now we'll remember her too. > From: kslynch62@hotmail.com > To: inmontgo@rootsweb.com > Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 14:35:06 +0000 > Subject: Re: [InMontgo] My cousin, Rosie Todd. From Angela F. Todd ("Angie") Thanks, Kathleen. > > > Ah, Minipoo! What an awful memory, you skunk! I spent a year in bed with kidney problems, and learned to detest that stuff! > Now I remember the 50's glasses, too -- cat's-eye shapes, and very very chic! Now I wear thin almost invisible lenses with almost invisible wires. No glamor at all, right? > Kathy > > > From: my_family_history@msn.com > > To: INMONTGO@rootsweb.com > > Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 14:07:58 +0000 > > Subject: Re: [InMontgo] My cousin, Rosie Todd. From Angela F. Todd ("Angie") Thanks, Kathleen. > > > > Thanks for caring about Rosie, Kathleen. You pointed out the fact that open-heart surgery was in its infancy during that time. I meant to point out that fact in my first letter, but I forgot. Still, aside from that fact, Rosie's health was already compromised, as she had been ill, off and on since childhood. But, even thin, she was a pretty, intelligent, and happy girl, whenever she was not going through one of her bouts of worsening health. > > > > I don't remember when she was stricken ill, but there was a time before that when she was healthy. There was a time when she could run, and jump, and play. But, at some point in childhood, she became restricted as to what she could do and not do. Anything strenuous was out. Having known SOME normalcy, it had to be hard to watch other children playing and knowing that you could not. > > > > I, myself, almost joined the ranks of the disabled, between severe asthma and what was called, "a mild case of polio." Looking back, that was during the great polio epidemic. Children were being crippled all across the nation till the Salk vaccine became available. And poor Prez. Roosevelt became confined to a wheelchair. Of course, I was born on July 1, 1947 under the next prez., who was Truman. Odd date to be born...when the Roswell, New Mexico space landing happened! > > > > I had to go to the doctor every week. He would take that little triangular-shaped rubber hammer and hit under my knee caps, over and over, till it jerked. I had some occasional pain in my upper right leg, and sometimes I had to lean on my sister, Chris, when walking to grade school, only a couple blocks or so from home. But, even now, at age 61, even with an additional condition...enduring occasional pinched nerves in my back, I still exercise and go out dancing every weekend and bike every chance I get. You just have to pace yourself. > > > > But, Rosie couldn't always do that. I remember one time, at Uncle Paul and Aunt Ruth's, how Uncle Paul came home and Rosie, and I think Martha, were goofing around and Rosie was going through one of her more healthy periods. So, feeling better, she took a flying leap, onto the bed, I think. Uncle Paul had a fit because Rosie had done something so forbidden, as it could have brought on a heart attack in her condition. > > > > Even washing her hair required assistance. But, between washings, I remember she brushed through her hair a product called,"Minipoo," a powdery "dry shampoo" that would remove dirt, excess oil, etc., without the use of water. > > > > Rosie and family, especially Aunt Ruth, crocheted and knitted, especially afghans. So pretty...those zig-zag patterns of contrasting bright and dark colors. > > > > Rosie never displayed jealousy that I can remember. One time we were listening to one of the 50's girl singers and she said, "That girl's got talent!" She was always saying good stuff about others. However, some of the girls envied her long, long fingernails, one of the few good by-products of not being allowed to do much work. > > > > She always wore those 50's glasses. I don't know what they were called...wing-tips? That's how they were shaped. > > > > Such a wonderful, wonderful girl. > > > > Well, I see you just sent another e-mail, so I'll check that one out. > > > > Angie > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Kathleen Lynch > > Sent: Friday, January 2, 2009 8:19 AM > > To: Montgomery County > > Subject: Re: [InMontgo] My cousin, Rosie Todd > > > > > > Angie, that's so sad. You always remember a cousin like Rosie, and especially as she died on a very memorable date, every year when that date comes around, you remember her. What's especially important to remember, too, is how new open heart surgery was in 1961. Rosie's surgery at the Mayo Clinic didn't give her a longer life, but it was still a gift of life to many other people whose names you'll never know. Kathy > > > > > From: my_family_history@msn.com > > > To: INMONTGO@rootsweb.com > > > Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2009 12:52:27 +0000 > > > Subject: [InMontgo] My cousin, Rosie Todd died on the bittersweet date of New Year's Day, 1961. This story relates to Cass County and Montgomery County, Indiana, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: My Family History > > > Sent: Thursday, January 1, 2009 7:39 PM > > > To: My_Family_History@msn.com, blacksheep-chat@rootsweb.com, cwcfamily@adelphia.net, dantodd@att.net, jsend@hpcisp.com, scismgenie@roadrunner.com, jilletta@gmail.com, karen.zach@sbcglobal.net, rlg7979@comcast.net, rlgassner@sbcglobal.net, INMONTGO@rootsweb.com, nlud32@sbcglobal.net, pcoons@iupui.edu, bwebb9@juno.com, rneuhausel@yahoo.com, lynnwitters@hotmail.com, talkneverends@webtv.net > > > Subject: My cousin, Rosie Todd died on the bittersweet date of New Year's Day, 1961. This story relates to Cass County and Montgomery County, Indiana, > > > > > > as we had relatives in both counties. Also, older relatives in Lawrence County, Indiana. > > > The Todd's, the Reynolds, the Merritts, the Hawkins, the Heltons, the Eads, the Normans, the McMillans, etc...they're all related in my family in the various counties. > > > > > > Anyway, this January 1st was also the anniversary of Rosie's parents, my Aunt Paul Raymond Todd, Sr. and his first wife, Ruth May Potts Todd, all of Logansport, Indiana. Paul, brother of my father, Francis ("Frank") Leverett Todd, was a son of John Henry Todd and Flora Etta Reynolds Todd. > > > > > > Rosemary, known as Rosie, would have been 18 later in the month of that same January. She and her parents are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Logansport, Cass County, Indiana. > > > > > > Rosie was loved. She was buried in a white casket and all of the "Rainbow Girls" (Masonic group) were all crying. > > > > > > Rosie's heart had been damaged from rheumatic fever as a child. Preceding her surgery, she had been told by Mayo Clinic doctors that she would die if she did not have open-heart surgery to correct the increasing heart damage. When her heart beat, some of the blood would not leave the heart, rather it would "pool." It was left up to Rosie to decide whether to precede with the surgery, which she did decide to do. There was a blood drive around Logansport for Rosie. Bunker Hill Air Force servicemen also contributed blood. > > > > > > Rosie's sister, our cousin Martha, stayed with our household while Paul, Ruth, and Rosie traversed to the Mayo Clinic. I'll never forget that phone call on that New Year's morning. I heard the phone ring downstairs. Then Dad came upstairs and into Marie and Chris' bedroom to tell Martha that her sister, Rosie, had just passed away. I'll never forget that "No!" that Martha cried out. > > > > > > Rosie was such a wonderful girl...so smart...so talented. Of course she reached the point where she was homeschooled. Aunt Ruth had told us that there was some award made in her behalf, named after her, at Washington Township School, right outside of the Logansport City Limits. I never have been able to find info on that award. Perhaps it's under scholarships or something. > > > > > > Aunt Ruth had also said that, following surgery, Rosie had color in her cheeks that she had not had in years. She was always so white and thin. She would have spurts of fairly good health, followed by bedridden periods. When she would get worse, her hair would fall out by the brushfuls and she would lose weight. As she would get better, her long hair would grow back. > > > > > > It was said that the surgery was a success, but, it was her weakened state of health that led to her death. She just wasn't strong enough to recover from surgery. > > > I remember, at the funeral, Aunt Ruth would just keep looking at Rosie and saying, "I just keep expecting to see her move." Of course, she knew better, but that's what she would say, anyway. > > > > > > Anyway, Rosie has a white headstone and rests in Peace throughout all of eternity. At least her body does. I'm sure her spirit is in Heaven. > > > > > > I have lots more info pertaining to names and dates, if anyone is interested. > > > > > > I still love you, Rosie, even after all of these years. > > > > > > Your cousin, Angela > > > > > > > > > > > > http://ingenweb.org/inmontgomery/ > > > > > > List Manager - inmontgo-admin@rootsweb.com > > > ------------------------------- > > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INMONTGO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > http://ingenweb.org/inmontgomery/ > > > > List Manager - inmontgo-admin@rootsweb.com > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INMONTGO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > > > > > > > > http://ingenweb.org/inmontgomery/ > > > > List Manager - inmontgo-admin@rootsweb.com > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INMONTGO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > http://ingenweb.org/inmontgomery/ > > List Manager - inmontgo-admin@rootsweb.com > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INMONTGO-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Kathleen Lynch wrote: > Yes, Angie -- Suzy is right. You have a wonderful memory for the "telling detail." Please write more -- you have an audience! And I'm sure that Jeff and Karen realize that the stories are what helps us make the historical bare details from census, birth and death records into real human beings. Your memories -- that's Rosie's immortality, and now we'll remember her too. > > Correct, we are all story tellers, and the stories are our heritage and our legacy. -- Jeffery G. Scism, IBSSG ~~~~ "It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." Samuel Adams "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams