Behind The Story: Lake of Clustered Stars

A Catskill Homecoming:

Catskills Before Evening Photo by Anthony Santa Teresa

There are few places where I can feel totally at ease, and one of them is the Catskill Mountains. Immersed in nature, there is a sense of peace here that I haven't felt anywhere else. Here, I can breathe easy, and let the rest of the world and its worries melt away. Hidden in this valley, I can recharge by lakes and streams, beneath trees and mountain tops, until the light of day gives way to a night full of stars.

My grandfather always called it a "gift." Even when our home in the Catskills came into his possession, he never truly felt like he owned it. For him, it was a special place meant to be shared, and we were just the lucky stewards who happened to inherit this land and take care of it.

As a child of the city, surrounded daily by brick and mortar, this was a fairy world, unreal and unspoiled. A destination without directions. To get there, all you had to do was head north until a sense of instinct came over, like a homing beacon that led you through farms and forests until you arrived magically at the doorstep. In fact, every dog we ever had in our family could sense the approach to this house a mile away, whimpering excitedly before we even made the turn off the main road.

There is a magic here all of its own. Instead of creating an imaginary world, I wanted readers to feel this sense of place and come discover the Catskills for themselves. I hope that Lake of Clustered Stars inspires you to take the drive, and experience the natural wonder and beauty the Catskill Mountains has to offer. You won't regret it.

I could talk about these mountains all day, but as John Muir once said,

"The mountains are calling and I must go..."

Turtleheads Blooming Photo by Anthony Santa Teresa