Old Catskill Days: A Series of Memoirs - Part I: The Early Years

Old Catskill Days is a collection of stories about life told from the narrators point of view. His story begins in the modern day during his time stationed in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where he was working on a counter terrorism initiative, from there it flashes back to his childhood and walks you through the steps it took to get to where he is now. All the stories contained herein are funny, compelling, and relatable. Some may even seem totally unbelievable, but you can be sure they are 100% true. Old Catskill Days follows his upbringing, growing up as the only white kid living in an all-black housing tenement where he was ostracized and beaten down on a daily basis. From there he develops into a young teenager, recklessly and repeatedly breaking the law; the actions of which, resulted in him getting thrown in a youth detention center at the ripe old age of 13. You will have the opportunity to read about his ascension from the streets, through pain, poverty and addiction, as he battles his way into corporate America. Overcoming the abuse and dysfunction that he was subjected to as a child and ultimately growing into a (somewhat) mature, professional and capable adult. These stories are about a quirky little boy, who is destined to be a very unique and influential man before he even knows it. Coming from humble beginnings it would seem that this little boy didn't stand a chance. However, with a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work he is able overcome those obstacles to become a productive member of society. He has a child of his own at a very young age, and goes on to consult as a professional computer hacker working for some of the most powerful business entities in the world. Throughout that little boy's life though, before all of that even has a chance to happen, he has to learn that the sweet is never as sweet without the bitter, and the harder path is usually the right one. The tales that he is going to tell you are full of experiences and anecdotes that dictate just that. Some of those stories will be hard to read at times, but they will definitely make you laugh. They may not always be the happiest, but as a whole, just like in life, the effort will be worth the work. Redemption should be more than just a pretty word that's used to describe someone making up for their past mistakes. It's better utilized to depict the path that a person takes, and how they grow and become the best of who they are. What if someone told you that the age-old adage, "You are whatever you choose to be" could actually be true? What if you heard that, that same little kid that was born into poverty, with a father who abandoned his family before he was even born; would still go on to change the world in ways that even he couldn't comprehend? Also, what if you discovered that it's not where you begin, but where you end up, that truly matters the most. That he was able to surpass the empty and barren future that was pre-determined for him and still able to come out on top. Isn't that encouraging? Maybe that's enough to light a fire in you, just to know that it's possible. That despite all the sadness, anger and hurt, even with all of the criminal escapades, the incarceration, and through the lack of hope or support, that, that little boy still made it. He is still standing, he is still here. Perhaps it will remind you that no matter what comes your way there is always still a chance for atonement and salvation. Sure, we are products of our environment, they help develop us into who we are, but we cannot allow our circumstances to dictate our situations. We all have choices to make. That's something the little boy learns as he grows up, and he shares with you along the way in Old Catskill Days. Part 1 of the series is available now!