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One Alaskan Childhood, One Grown-Up World, One Long Journey Home

Dwayne Mitchell

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Published in Still Points North: One Alaskan Childhood One Grown Up World One Long Journey Home

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I was born and raised in a small town in Alaska. My childhood was idyllic. I spent my days playing in the woods, fishing in the rivers, and exploring the vast wilderness that surrounded my home. I was surrounded by a loving family and community, and I felt like I had everything I could ever want.

Still Points North: One Alaskan Childhood, One Grown-up World, One Long Journey Home

by Leigh Newman

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4018 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	274 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

But as I grew older, I started to feel like I was missing out on something. I wanted to see the world, to experience new things, and to meet new people. So, after high school, I left Alaska and moved to the "grown-up world".

I went to college, got a job, and started a family. I lived in big cities and small towns, and I traveled to all corners of the globe. But no matter where I went, I always felt like I was missing something. I missed the simplicity of my childhood, the close-knit community, and the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.

After years of living in the "grown-up world", I finally decided to return home. I moved back to my hometown with my family, and I bought a house on the same street where I grew up. It was like coming full circle.

I'm now raising my own children in the same town where I was raised. I'm surrounded by the same friends and family who I grew up with. And I'm finally feeling like I'm home.

My journey home was a long one, but it was worth it. I've learned a lot about myself and about the world along the way. And I've come to appreciate the things that are truly important in life: family, community, and the simple pleasures of life.

I'm so grateful that I was able to experience both the "grown-up world" and the Alaskan childhood. It's given me a unique perspective on life, and it's made me a more well-rounded person.

If you're ever feeling lost or like you're missing something, I encourage you to take a journey home. It may not be the same place you left, but it will be a place where you can find yourself again.

## Image Description

The image accompanying this article is a photo of a young girl standing on a dock in Alaska. She is wearing a red jacket and jeans, and she is looking out at the water. The sun is setting behind her, and the sky is a beautiful shade of orange and pink. The image is framed by a border of green trees.

The image is relevant to the article because it captures the feeling of nostalgia and longing for home that the author describes in the article. The young girl in the photo is looking out at the water, as if she is thinking about all the places she has been and all the people she has met. But she is also looking back at the shore, as if she is longing for the simplicity and innocence of her childhood home.

Still Points North: One Alaskan Childhood, One Grown-up World, One Long Journey Home

by Leigh Newman

4 out of 5