Monday, April 4, 2022

Listen To Me: How My Down Syndrome Brother Saved My Life by Lynne Podrat

Listen To Me by Lynne Podrat

 

Listen To Me: How My Down Syndrome Brother Saved My Life by Lynne Podrat Publisher: LP Press (August 19, 2021) 
Category: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Special Needs, Disabilities, Down Syndrome, Siblings Tour dates: March 14-April 14, 2022 
ISBN: 978-1737666806 
Available in Print and ebook, 128 pages 

Listen To Me







Description Listen To Me by Lynne Podrat

This memoir was written to honor my youngest brother’s influence over my life, the good, the bad, and the ugly of living with a Down Syndrome sibling. It tells the story of the children in my family, despite our parents’ frailties, remaining committed to each other through life’s many changes and separations. Who I am today is directly related to the who I needed to become.

Praise Listen To Me by Lynne Podrat

“As the intertwined life stories of the author and her brother Bruce emerge, the story takes on a new tone. Bitterness and rancor are replaced with a gentle kind of mellowness and a roaring-fire-on-a-cold-winter-day kind of warmth. This is underscored when the author writes that her plans for Bruce were “to open and enrich his world.” In the end, however, she realizes how being with Bruce “accomplished so much more.” She realizes how this “sweet small man” and “Bruce’s” capacity to love and to “just go on because there was no other choice” profoundly influenced her life. And how Bruce opened and enriched her world. Oh, and the title? You’ll have to read the book for yourself to figure that one out. Flavored with gentle humor and tongue-in-cheek wit, Listen to Me isn’t a long read. At about 30,000 words, you can finish it in an afternoon. But the reflections and insights will reverberate much longer.”- Kristine, Pages and Paws. 

“This book is a touching story about the unconditional love between an older sister and her brother, Bruce. The prose is uplifting and inspirational, without the traces of ableism that can be found in other such works. The overall message is a plea to see people for who they are, not their diagnosis and aims to increase disability awareness.”- Laura Quinn, Laura Quinn Writes 

“This memoir is exactly what I needed. It made me laugh and cry and helped me appreciate the people in my life even more than I already did. Bruce's love for his family, friends, and favorite rock 'n' roll idols lives on through this book. His larger-than-life personality left such an impression on me; I can honestly say that I feel like I know him without ever having met him. I think about him from time to time and his essence inspires hope in me, showing me how precious it is to have an innocent view of life at any age. This book means so much to me. Lynne Podrat is a true artist with her words and the life she created around the people she loves. Her tenacity and devotion to her family—and herself—is unparalleled. She is a badass. If I could just accomplish half of what she has, I would be happy.”-Sandi, Proof Reader Sandi

About Lynne PodratListen To Me by Lynne Podrat

Lynne Podrat graduated from the Pennsylvania State University and then spent fifteen years in the Fashion Industry as an Assistant Buyer and Department Manager with Bloomingdales Department Store before returning to school to receive her educational degrees from Arcadia University and Gynedd Mercy. A retired educator and Administrator from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania School District, she taught English, literature, composition and history in elementary and secondary schools. She has secretly been a writer and poet her whole life, but has only recently chosen to share those talents with the world. Lynne now lives with her husband in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, spending winters dragon boating where her heart races and summers hiking the Rockies in Vail, Colorado where her heart sings. 

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Review

"The hardest thing I have ever done in my life, to date, was to pretend everything was perfect when I visited my mother’s hospital room that day." Lynne Podrat. 

This is the memoir of Lynne Podrat and how she had to learn to become the woman, she was meant to be. After an honest conversation with God, she realized she was on earth to do something no one else could do. This became her quest and saving grace. 

Throughout her journey and relationship with Bruce, her life was shaped by her determination, willingness to stand for what she believed, and helping people. It all started when her youngest brother was born. 

At thirteen, she made the choice to care for her brother when her parents decided they were not mentally fit to care for a Down Syndrome baby. This created a sense of love and duty within her that would propel her into her career. 

"You may not have wanted education, but education wanted and needed you. This was your true purpose.” Lynne Podrat. 

The honest reflection of her life and that of her brother was heartwarming and touching. Being honest with her feelings and giving us a glimpse into this remarkable man's life helps one understand the many difficulties a down syndrome person can have but also the joys you can experience in life. All it needs is love and dedication, and the author definitely had that in spades. 

This is a lovely memoir that not only brings justice to her brother's life but helps us to understand how you can live in your destiny despite the many obstacles you face. Truly a wonderful testimony of what sibling love is. 

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book. 

Jerica with her Uncle Bruce at Thanksgiving 


Excerpt

During one of our Sunday visits, I asked my brother to run some errands with me. “Sure, where are we going?” he said. Not wanting to confuse him with too many details, 

“To the bookstore for some health cookbooks,” I explained. 

“OOHH, cooking, Yes, I’d like those books.” Laughing, we left for Barnes and Noble, not far from the house. Once there, I guided him to a large table filled with books. 

“Star Trek! Lynnie, Lynnie! Star Trek!” He shouted with excitement for all to hear. Sure enough, he held up a Star Trek book, the original, one of his favorite television shows. “Correct. How did you know, honey?” I asked knowing he could not read and curious as to how he knew. He shook his head, hand on his forehead. The obligatory eye roll and deep sigh one does when dealing with the feebleminded. 

“Lynne, listen to me,” pointing to the cover. “That says,” and he proceeded to spell, “S-T- A-R T-R-E-K, Star Trek—and that is the enterprise.” He had memorized the words having watched the show so often.

“Stay here and look at your book while I check these cookbooks,” I had instructed while becoming immersed in two Whole 30 books trying to discern the differences, forgetting the time and him. “So, Brucie. Are you ready to go?” No response. Looking up, Bruce was nowhere in sight. Not panicked but a tad concerned, I asked the people around the table if they had noticed where the young man standing with me had gone. Pointing to the couches, sure enough, there was my brother, one leg crossed over the other in the coffee/lounge area reading his book. I walk over, not entirely pleased with this, but before I could say anything, Bruce looked up and said, “Lynnie, how about we get coffee and you can sit and read. Go ahead. If you have trouble, I can help. You get the coffee. I want milk and sugar.” My turn to roll my eyes, shake my head, and sigh. It was impossible to stay annoyed. However, he did need to acknowledge my concern at his walking away.

“Brucie, I am a little annoyed with you.”
“Why? What I do?” his eyes wide with innocence. I am not David, so I just fixed him with a look. “Why do you think I might be upset with you?” That was the clincher as he did not like having me upset. “I walked away.” I nodded my head. “When you walked away, what could you have done so I would have known where you were?”

“I don’t know.” I continued my look.
Looking down, he grinned, “I could tell you.” “Yes. Let’s practice what you will tell me next time.”

Barnes and Noble became our new home away from home, visiting so often that the ladies placed our order upon seeing us.

“Hi, Bruce! You can come get your coffee when‐ ever you are ready.”

Instead of the china cups, our coffee was poured in to-go cups so Bruce could take responsibility for getting our order while flirting with his new fan club. This was one of the many special things I would miss when we moved.

Once we were back home having finished our coffee visit, chores, reading, rolling coins, and eating a snack, Bruce and I settled in to listen to his favorite music on an old laptop I had designated as his. Bruce had a journal we kept at my house where he practiced his writing and more reading. Writing is contagious, so I either write poetry or thoughts about teaching and work on Sudoku puzzles. He dated the page to include the month, day, and year. He then wrote the titles of albums and two of the songs he loved from that album. We then drew. Actually, I drew. “Lynne, can you help me?” he asked with this pathetic face, and then we colored the page. He got such pleasure returning to pages and reading the letters to me, triumphant when he recognized words. This never failed to make me laugh and make my heart happy for him.

To ensure Bruce’s inclusion with family, Jerica joined us on as many Sundays as her schedule allowed, Thanksgiving, and all Jewish holiday dinners. Randy, Laurie, Maddie, and Emily stayed with us on their northern visits during Christmas, sharing many activities with their Uncle Bruce.

                                                Bruce and Me                                            

                            


Giveaway Listen To Me by Lynne Podrat

This giveaway is for 3 print copies, one for each of 3 winners and is open to the U.S. only. This giveaway ends on April 15, 2022 midnight, pacific time.  
Entries accepted via Rafflecopter only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Listen To Me by Lynne Podrat

1 comment:

  1. I am so glad you enjoyed 'Listen To Me'! Thanks so much for hosting!

    ReplyDelete

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