Steve Fernlund and The Long Way Home

  While raising four people from puppyhood to adulthood, the Bohunk and I always had dogs and even a few cats around the house. We considered our pets family members. We still have a few animals in the family, and the similarities to having kids at home are worth noting. Our three pets, the dogs Gypsy and Fiona, and the cat Winthrop, require our attention and care, of course. Feeding and grooming, as well as their emotional needs, including walks outside and companionship. These exchanges become a fundamental aspect of life that feels strikingly similar to the parent-child relationship. Winthrop, almost 10 years old now, is an indoor-only cat. He was a stray kitten that the Bohunk found one morning while walking one of the dogs when we lived in Illinois. He was about the size of a teacup but meowed loud enough to be heard. “A kitty followed me home,” the Bohunk announced when she came in the house that day. She had found (heard) him meowing near a house that bordered a cornfield, a...

Admitting that I once believed I had all the knowledge I needed, I've come to realize that learning is a lifelong journey. For those who may have questioned my wisdom, you were right.  As a self-proclaimed freelance writer, I created a Substack account a couple of years ago. Substack is an online platform that allows writers and content creators to publish and monetize their work. Social media with a more focused purpose. It's primarily known for its email newsletter service. You can find me there as @thelongwayhome1. Try the free email newsletter. Like all things related to the numerous social media sites out there, I’ve struggled to figure it out and establish a presence. Tech isn't my strong suit, nor is self-promotion—a common theme needed to succeed in online services. Now that the Bohunk and I have managed to downsize (see Swedish Death Cleaning) and settled into our urban lifestyle, I’ve restarted my Substack account. I've already spent too much time reading othe...