Somewhere out there is more information about my Grandfather’s supposed sister, Rose/Rosie/Rossie, who was born on May 3, 1904, and died before the 1910 US census.
First, I have to start by saying, I have known for a while that though we were told my grandfather was the oldest of six siblings, I know that he was actually the third oldest of 8 siblings who lived to adulthood.
I also know that his mother gave birth to 12 children. For three I have no records, so I assume they were still births. However, for one, I have a name and a date of birth. Rose/Rosie. That name touches my heart. My father’s nickname when he served in Korea was Rosie. To this day when I visit a memorial stone I put in the local Korean War Memorial, I always bring a rose.
But he never knew he had aunts who died tragically young: one named Celia, who lived to 24, (see blog below) and Rosie, who probably only lived for a couple of years or less.
But I cannot find Rosie except for this one document which includes her birthdate and her parent’s names. I know it is correct, because it has Sarah Ritt/Rith for the mother’s maiden name. Also the family did live in Brooklyn in Kings County. I am not sure about the street. I know at one point they lived on a Sackman Street. But that was later. And I have found that this family seemed to move a bit.
Also I know Rosie was born before the youngest daughter Minnie/Muriel. I remember seeing her name in a list of the family members at some point after 2017. At that time, I wrote a blog about searching for my grandfather’s family. Someone sent me an email or a private message with information about all the children from research he/she had done. At the time I did not believe it was correct because I was still under the assumption that grandpa was the oldest of six, not the third of eight, or even nine. But somewhere along the way I have lost that document. And now I need it.
That teaches you to have absolutely NO assumptions about your family’s history and to never disregard a document.
I have found several Rosie or Rose Rosenbergs who died between 1905 and 1909. I am not sure if any of them is my family’s Rosie. Since her sister, Celia, was buried in 1920 at Montefiore Cemetery in the Queens, I was hoping to find Rosie there as well. But the only Rose Rosenberg buried in Montefiore, Springfield Gardens, had no date of birth or death. Could it be her? The memorial ID number is 148979659. But there is no other information or photo.
I am hoping someone who researches better than I can find out more about Rosie! I used Ancestry and Family Search as the two sources for the information I do have. Thank you!
Sometimes you just have to go to a destination wedding. Especially after two years of Covid cancelling weddings. Knowing that this wedding of a good friend’s son would be mainly held outside, gave us the impetus to throw caution a bit aside to go and celebrate a happy occasion.
What a great spot to get married!
I will not write about the wedding and festivities, except to say It was wonderful and we were so happy to be there to celebrate!
But we also enjoyed the wonderful weather and beauty of Sanibel and Captiva Islands and the South Seas Resort. We had a wonderful room with a view of both the entrance to the marina and to the ocean. Every morning I woke up happy to look out my window. We loved walking the grounds and relaxing.
For me the best part was going to visit the manatees that took over a slip in the marina. I visited the marina twice a day to just watch them float. I was not the only one who found it relaxing and peaceful and magical.
The View from my room.I loved seeing the manatees at the marina and the view from my room.
Standing outside on my balcony, I often saw a dolphin swimming by. I tried to get photos, but never actually got him jumping out of the water. My mind still sees it. The glorious sunrise outside our room was enchanting. This is a vacation spot that I would love to revisit. And to have the same room!
Pictures from the museum and the shells I found on the beach, as well as the beach at South Seas Resort.
We did not spend all of our time at the resort. I love exploring and museums! There was one museum I just had to see, The Bailey-Mathews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island, which opened in 1995. The Great Hall of Shells is really a great hall filled with shells of all types. The artwork made from shells surprised me. Seeing live mollusks walk in their shells was also exciting for me. I have seen shells, but I have never seen one moving in real life!
I learned why Sanibel and Captiva Islands are known for the shells that come ashore. The islands are in an arc shape that catches the waves and so the shells bringing them on to the shore. I finally woke up early enough to go shell hunting one morning before the crowds. Most of the shells were quite small, but then, just as we were ready to go, the waves brought me a lovely treasure. And yes, just as I learned at the museum, I made sure it was a dead shell with nothing inside.
My husband and I enjoyed our time there, learning about shells; talking to the volunteers; and even touching a live mollusk.
My favorite sign.
My other excitement going to the Museum is that I finally got a photograph of my all time favorite road sign. We had noticed it when we first drove to the resort. But I did not have my phone ready to take a photo. We passed a similar sign heading out to the museum as well. On the way back from the museum I was ready! I had my phone out and started taking pictures before I actually saw the sign. It worked. I captured the sign that warned us about “Low flying Owls.” To be honest, we never saw any low flying owls, but the sign was worth it. It gave me a Harry Potter magical feeling and added to the enchantment of the islands. Just whose owls are flying so low and what messages are they bringing.
Inside the Bubble Room and the Menu!
Although we did eat several meals at the resort, which were delicious, we also ventured off site to try some local restaurants. The Bubble Room, with its bakery/ice cream parlor and its gift shop, was a wonderful venue with both good food and fun places to explore. I felt like I was inside a kaleidoscope. The gift shop was great fun as well with its vintage antiques and gifts. I had to buy a t-shirt! If you go, save room for desserts. The cakes are delicious.
Other favorite restaurants, included the Mucky Duck where we ate outside by the beach and the Cantina Captiva with its dollar bills adorning the walls and ceiling (yes we added one!). The food at both of these was good, not special, but the atmosphere made them enjoyable.
I would not mind spending a week or more on Captiva Island. The four nights there just gave us a taste of the island life. I have a good feeling that we will be back on these captivating islands.
I was not going to write about our trip to New Orleans because I have been there several times. But then I realized I had never written about the city, and it is one of my favorites!
I will touch only on the places I saw this time, with a little of the history of why I love it.
Jazz on the street.
New Orleans is like no other city in the USA, with its Creole and French roots, its diverse populations and its jazz. I love walking down the streets in the French Quarter and hearing the music and watching the bands play on street corners.
We cannot go to New Orleans and not have beignets. Each time we go to our favorite shop and get an order of three to share. I eat one, my husband has two. Personally, we like Café Beignet. I know that many enjoy a different spot. But this one right off the square and next to the police station is the best for me!
Our favorite beignet shop.
I also go to the same restaurant on the corner of the plaza by St. Louis Cathedral. The windows all open and you feel like you are sitting outside while inside. And yes we went there this trip as well. I was especially happy that in New Orleans you had to show your Covid vaccine record to enter a restaurant. It made me feel a bit safer.
I did visit the Audubon Aquarium of The Americas. The last time I went there was 20 years ago, before Hurricane Katrina destroyed the aquarium and released many of the sea life. It is definitely different then what I remember, plus there is construction nearby, and renovation inside, but I enjoyed my hour or so walking around by myself. My favorite spots were the Amazon Rain Forest set up in a giant greenhouse structure, and the sea horses. But the Great Maya Reef area was also fun. For me aquariums are great activities for both the young and young at heart.
My second stop was more educational than fun. I went to the Museum of Southern Jewish Experience, where I learned much about southern Jewish population and Civil Rights activism. The museum did a good job in showing how Jewish men moved into the south as peddlers and then as store owners. Their activities against racism were important to the Civil Rights movement. Although I knew that they had played a part in changing how people were treated, I was not aware of the extensive work of the Jewish population of the south to help. Another good spot to go!
During past trips to New Orleans, I visited the National World War II Museum/National D-Day Museum. It is a wonderful spot that really takes hours to visit completely. Wear good walking shoes and schedule yourself properly. Learning about D-Day and the boats that helped in the Invasion of Normandy was the information that still sticks in my mind. The Higgins Boats, which were used in the invasion, were designed by a New Orleans manufacturer Andrew Jackson Higgins. The Higgins boats played an important role in the invasion, a fact that has stayed in my mind for years.
I love New Orleans because there are so many museums and historical sites to explore and so many wonderful restaurants to experience the tastes of the city. The history of Mardi Gras and the diverse communities of New Orleans makes is interesting and delightful!
After the hurricane and Covid issues, it is a city that needs support and love. At one event I attended, the waitress told me how happy they all were that our convention was held, because it gave them hope and an income which helps keeps their spirits up. With the rise in the new Covid variant, I know that people are nervous about traveling. I understand. I will say that New Orleans is doing its best to keep people safe. I wish all cities were doing the same. In the meantime, I salute the New Orleans Spirit.
What is a trip to Latin America without going to churches? You just cannot do it.
In Mexico City there were two church sites we had to visit. The first was Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary Into Heaven. They just call it the Metropolitan Cathedral. I understand why.
Cristo Negro/The Black Jesus
There were several facts about this Cathedral that make it special. The first deals with the tradition of Black Jesus/Cristos Negros of the area. There are several countries that have wooden Jesus sculptures on a cross that have darkened and turned black over the ages. The one in Mexico City has a story. Supposedly the bishop always prayed at the crucifix as he entered the cathedral. There were those who wished him to die. So they put poison on the feet of the wooden Jesus, knowing that the bishop would kiss the feet when he was done praying.
The bishop did as he always does, and kissed the feet, but he did not die. Instead, the Jesus sculpture turned black.
To be honest this is not my first Cristo Negro, or Black Christ/Jesus. I have been to Portobelo, Panama, and saw the one in the Inglesia de San Felipe. It is special because it was found in the town’s harbor and it wears a robe! I have also seen the black Madonna in Montserrat, also known as Our Lady of Montserrat. Many go on pilgrimages to see these statues. For me they have been a happy surprise. (See blogs below.)
This is not the only special site within the cathedral. There is also magnificent altar and intricately carved wooden sculpture behind it. Outside, in front of the cathedral, there is a statue of Pope John Paul with an image of the Lady of Guadalupe carved into his robes. This foreshadows the second religious site we visited.
Statute of the Pope.The carved altarThe pendulumThe stairs resting on cement
But the most obvious and unusual aspect of the building is that it is sinking. Completed in the mid 1600s, the cathedral was built on land that was once the bottom of a giant lake. It was also built in the area where the Aztec’s had their temples. In fact, the stones used in the construction of the church were parts of the dismantled Aztec temple. The cathedral was built upon the ruins. One way of saying to the Aztec, we beat you. But not so great centuries later.
Around the cathedral you can see the excavations of the Aztec sites. A model of what the plaza area looked like when the Spanish first came is near the excavations.
Part of the excavation of the Aztec ruins.
Within the church, you can see how they have worked to stabilize it. Marble stone stairs, now sit on a bed of concrete stairs. A pendulum hangs from the high ceiling and shows if the building is still standing straight or sinking again. By the lines on the floor, one can see how tilted it once was, and how close to straight it stands now.
Our second religious site was the Basilica of the Lady of Guadalupe. This site is also sinking, and many of the buildings, the older basilica, the first church and the convent, were also tilting. They have been stabilized. But you can see that much work still needs to be done. The newer, larger, round Basilica built in the 1970s seems fine for now.
The Basilica and all the other buildings on the site, including the original basilica from the early 1700s were constructed to honor Saint Juan Diego and his visions and miracles of the Lady of Guadalupe. Sometime around 1530 a picture of the Lady of Guadalupe/Mary appeared on his cloak, which he said was a signal that the indigenous people should convert to Catholicism. There have been visitors/pilgrims to this site ever since. And many buildings have been constructed to provide a place for them to pray.
The new Basilica and the original image of the Lady of Guadalupe.
Today the new Basilica houses the image. Encased in two frames, one silver and one gold, it is mounted on the wall near one entrance of the Basilica. You must get on a short moving walkway to see it, which keeps everyone moving forward and no one can stay in front of it for too long. The Basilica is constantly being used by the people for Mass. Each hour a new Mass begins.
Statue of the Pope along side the old basilica.
There is a large open plaza on one side of the Basilica. It is here that Pope John Paul came to dedicate the site. A statue to him stands between the old and new basilicas. He also came here a second time to canonize Juan Diego.
The temple of the well.
We could not enter all the buildings. But I will admit my favorite was the one that covers the well. It was a lovely little building. And each of the windows was in the shape of a six-pointed star. For my Jewish mind it was perfect. Miriam, the sister of Moses, was known for her affinity for water. When they were in the desert, water followed Miriam. So to know that here at the site of the visions of the Lady of Guadalupe/Mary/Miriam, there is a well with a temple with six-pointed stars, gave me a little joy.
This little church shows the work being done to save it.
My second favorite building was a small church that is still standing, but only with the help of metal beams. In front of it was a small water way, with no water right now, except for a bowl of water that a mama cat was enjoying while her kitten struggled to reach it.
It is quite a site, much larger than I anticipated. To be honest, I did not want to go. We had spent the morning visiting the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, and I was both exhausted and not feeling well. But our guide insisted that we had to see it. As it was on our way back to the hotel, I figured I would say yes, but could always back out.
That did not happen. I was hot, tired and feeling ill. But I got out of the van and walked the many steps to the entrance of the site. And then for over an hour walked the grounds and through the buildings to see all that I could. I was amazed that I started to feel better as we walked. It was so interesting that I forgot to think about not feeling well. So I have to commend our guide who insisted we visit.
zicharonot 