Josita Todd:  

2010 Year End Letter Winter hit us on November 20, 2009 with 6 inches of snow. The snow just kept coming all winter. Some days I had up to 4 feet in Southern California! Returning from Mardi Gras, I came down with the H1N1 virus. There was nothing the doctor could do so I spent the next six weeks at home in the bed. Living by yourself at a time like this can be pretty hard. NOT even a dog to lick you and check on you occasionally. I do have good friends but once you are diagnosed with H1N1 even your mom won’t come around. Just think how badly we treated people with AIDS in the early 60’s. April was spent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Lots of tributes to Louis Prima, Louis Armstrong, Mathia Jackson and Juanita Brooks. In May, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Needless to say, I did everything I could to get her seen at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. We spent two weeks at the clinic and she received the best of care. She is now cancer free for one month ….. we are still keeping to her daily regiment. In August, Phillise and I attended the Omega Institute in Upstate New York for two weeks. This was a wonderful experience away from TV, telephones and all the day to day hassle. Set on 195 acres in the historic Hudson Valley, just 90 miles north of New York City. All food is bought locally and organic. NO wine!! No Meat!! One of the sessions, I attended was “Cell-Level Healing” with Joyce Hawkes, PhD. Joyce is a renowned biophysicist and has pioneered this emerging field of healing at the cellular level. I truly contine to believe that we can heal ourselves by removing blockages and learning how to locate damaged neurons, muscles, intestinal cells, liver cells and discover how to repair damage caused by toxins or viruses. After a full week of intense learning and practice I left the session with the ability to smell the smallest particles of grass and flowers in the air. Bottom line is that I was able to remove blockages in my sinuses that had been there for several years. Phillise attended “Igniting Your Medical Intuition” and I also took some time to explore journal writing in “Writing Your Authentic Self”. This year was consumed with family health issues. While I was at Mayo Clinic with my mom, Grandma fails and broke both her hip and shoulder. As you know, Grandma is blind and confined to a wheel chair. We had to have 24 by 7 care during the next two months. My father and I took turns spending the nights with her. The good news is she is almost back to “normal” for a 96 year old and can’t wait for me to take her to Vegas for my birthday. My dad (Rudy) had an unusual accident that almost cost his life. While storing his mobile home it rolled backed on him and pinned him between a concert wall. His whole left side was crushed. The accident occurred while I was taking grandma to the emergency room for a potential stroke. After 6 months, he is starting to regain motion and full strengthen on his left side. In October, I attended my mom’s formal retirement party. While in Battle Creek, my stepfather, George, was rushed to the hospital because of chest pains. After several days of tests we found out that he had cancer in the lungs, legs, liver and kidney. The next several months were painful and sad for the whole family (especially for my mom). George passed away on December 27th at his home. George and my mom had been married for 52 years. Phillise continues to progress on her PhD program at UC Irvine. She is doing well and plans to move off campus and back into the guest house in June 2011. I did take the flu shot this fall, mainly due to my H1N1 experience. I was sick for 24 hours after taking the shot although they say it is a dead virus, my reaction was very real and alive. When you are young, you don’t think about your health…….we are inconvincible. In 2010, what I know for sure is: Be Thankful for Your Health and Grateful for Each and Every Day!!! I wish you a very prosperous and healthy new year. I trust that you know that “mi casa es su casa” – you are always welcome in Southern California. (Just make sure I’m here) smile. With much love, Josita 2009 Year End Letter Well this is my third Christmas in my new home. I have fully transited from the Mid West / East Coast to the wonderful mountains in Southern California. I wish you much happiness in 2010. The winter was tremendous; locals say we are experiencing more snow than they have seen in decades. Spring came with over 200 tulip bubs I had planted last fall. What a beautiful site and blessing. I love spring and looking forward to seeing my tulips in April 2010. My Grandma Carrie is still doing well at 96 years young. She is completely blind and confined to a wheel chair but is mentally as sharp as a forty year old. She is waiting for me to get well so I can take her to Vegas which is her favorite place in the world. August, I traveled to San Juan and Southern Caribbean with my good friend Faye. My Mom came to visit me in September, from Battle Creek. She really enjoys the mountains once I get her up here. Her finger nails hold onto the dash board all the way up the mountain. Six thousand feet above sea level is traumatic for her and most ¿Flat Landers¿. Phillise and I spent a lot of quality time with my mom which is so important to all of us. Phillise completed her second Master¿s degree. She has been accepted to 4 of her 5 school choices for her PhD program. She starts her research this spring. I lost my baby in the fall - my 1989 SL Mercedes. Phillise had an accident and totaled my car. The good news is she was not hurt but the bad news is my car was un-repairable. We got her a 2010 Toyota Preus which she loves because of the gas mileage. Uncle Wilber and Aunt Easter passed away this year leaving only my Grandma Carrie and Aunt Mildred out of eleven children. Uncle Wilber was 94 and Aunt Easter was 98. Aunt Ruth who is Uncle Wilber¿s wife waitied 3 months after his dealth before she asked my dad to help her find another husband. Aunt Ruth is 99 years old! Michael Jackson¿s death was a hard blow for me. As many of you know I worked as a computer programmer at Motown for several years; actually during the time when...Expand for more