First.
My mom, Patti Posner, wrote a book!
It is called My View From the Mountains.
My family owned a resort hotel in the Catskills (think Dirty Dancing)...and this is her story of the hotel, the history and the drama.
It is getting rave reviews!
Here is a little more about it:
Much has been written about the Catskill Mountains resort experience as enjoyed by untold numbers of first- and second -generation Jews who, in the early part of the 20th century, had been shut out of many other resorts because of anti-Semitism. While the hotels were indeed as wonderful as many novels and histories describe them, this book is different. It tells a sometimes piercingly honest story of the family that ran the Brickman, one of the most successful Catskills resorts. It is a tale of blood ties as strained by a sometimes ruthless business, explosive secrets, sex and drugs. But this story also is about a deep familial love, hard work, commitment and a winding path to self-knowledge. Patti Posner, daughter of one of the two brothers who ran the hotel, reveals (and thus preserves) the day-to-day life and inner workings of this now vanished world of hospitality, along with the human story behind it all.
You can get it on Amazon.
And now let me tell you a story of my own…
It was the rain that woke me.
But it was the flash of lighting that got me out of bed.
Knowing the thunder would arrive.
I did not want to miss it.
I wanted each rumble to roll through me.
Pulling me in.
Pulling me deep.
The world was gray.
The dark corners loomed.
And I felt held in all the wonder.
The song was quiet at first.
As it always is.
But as I settled into myself.
I could hear her.
Full of nothing and everything I needed.
The Siren of Shadowy Stillness.
The call of the early morning quiet.
Asking.
Me to follow her.
Into the dark.
Under it All.
Where I could stop.
Holding myself together.
And simply let myself be.
In her presence.
Where I could rest.
And listen to the heartbeat of stillness.
I gave her my yes.
And my hand.
I gave over to the shadows.
I sunk.
In.
And let myself be cradled by her magic.
In the lull of her presence.
I let the ache to do.
To be.
More.
Ebb from my being.
Until I was all that was left.
When the sun broke over the world.
She brought me home.
Empty.
Full.
Ready.
She sings to us all.
If we are willing.
When you need.
To sink into the cool.
Welcoming.
Shadows.
When you are ready.
To rest.
Call upon the Siren of the Shadowy Stillness.
She will guide you.
In.
{to meet the Siren of the Shadowy Stillness}
You do not always.
Have to run to the fire.
You can.
Let the your breath.
Find its way.
To the edges.
Where the cover of the willows and wild.
Will branch out over you too.
Bringing you respite.
From the ever churning days.
Keeping you safe.
As you set down your armor.
So that you can stretch past who you knew yourself to be.
And remember yourself.
To the soft magic.
That always whispers your name.
This Siren…and others…are available for purchase.
You can meet them all here:
https://www.joannadane.com/sirens-of-summer
With love and fire~
Jo Anna
Your mom's book sounds fabulous! What a fascinating experience to grow up in that environment and context. <3