Outskirts Press, INC.

Keep Dancing

Advance Praise for Keep Dancing “Dear Rose, I wanted to send something related to the book you are writing. What a wonderful idea—to share your experience. I must say that I have always marveled at your strength, your ability to be so full of life in the face of such overwhelming loss. All your children gone. The thought boggles the mind. You've incorporated Rick's friends as your new family, and we are privileged to be a small part of this. You are my role-model for living life to its fullest!” – Pam White “I will read this book and I will keep it somewhere in my home where I can see it and be reminded daily that whatever I am going through is manageable. Never mind “The Secret” that I learned from this will be my “positive affirmation.” Gene and Rosie inspire me to find the courage to deal with things that test me and find the hope to push through to the beauty of life that still awaits me on the other side.” – Renee Edmonds “The Giesies have an amazing gift for remembering and celebrating the happy times and letting the sadder things in life slip into distant memory, where they are only to be recounted for a purpose. Thank you Mama Rose and Gene for the original gift that was Rick and for the gift of teaching me how to continue enjoying him every day of my life.” – Brian Toffoli

FOREWARD Gary Janak As long as I can remember, I have heard stories about Gene and RosIe.  As a child, I was always intrigued with their various adventures and fascinated by having cousins who lived in Arizona .  My mom would keep me posted on where they were traveling and what was happening in their lives.  She has always loved RosIe, her first cousin, and would welcome their visits to Texas .     Over the years, I was also told to pray for Gene and RosIe and for their sons. As a youth, it was incomprehensible to understand how a disease could affect so many members of one family.  As each of their three sons died, my mom would share the devastating news with me. As a teenager, I questioned how Gene and RosIe endured it, especially when Rose herself required a kidney transplant. As they began spending more time in Texas, over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to become better acquainted with them.  It was not long before I discovered how they were able to endure their tragedies:  through their faith in God and by embracing the gifts of hope, laughter and dancing!     I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit more often now, with Gene and RosIe, including an annual pilgrimage to their serene cabin in the mountains of Arizona.  Through our many visits on the porch of that beautiful cabin, and in the numerous domino games we have played, I have listened to their stories of triumph and tragedy; joy and pain; hope and despair.  The question, “how do they endure it” still lingers, but I only have to witness their playful teasing of each other and their humorous bantering to soon realize that the longer they are married, the tighter they hold on to each other.  We speak often of their sons, and sometimes even of what could have been, but Gene and RosIe always return to what they have:  their love for each other, a close-knit extended family, and so many good friends.     I cannot imagine my life without Gene and RosIe.  Their story is our story; it is about accepting the challenges of life and trusting God will never forsake us.  In my heart, I know our loving God has turned their mourning into dancing!