Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound: Tales about brotherhood from Bear Creek

“A tender, vividly told memoir of growing up in 1960s rural America, capturing the beauty, challenges, and lasting memories of a childhood shaped by family and nature.” —NewInBooks.com

In the heart of 1960s rural America, where frosted landscapes meet crackling fireplaces and the rhythms of farm life pulse through each season, Stephen E. Johnson invites readers into a world both intimately personal and universally resonant.

Salmon Swimming Upstream and Homebound is a tender memoir that captures the essence of childhood in the Pacific Northwest, where nature serves as both playground and teacher. Through vivid storytelling, Johnson reflects on the formative moments that shaped his youth—from snowy sledding escapades that ignited wonder to quiet family traditions that anchored his sense of belonging.

Structured around the natural cycles of farm life, each chapter offers a glimpse into the joys and challenges of growing up in Bear Creek, where brotherhood wasn’t just about blood relations but about the bonds forged through shared adventures and life’s inevitable lessons. Rich in sensory detail, the narrative transports readers to a simpler time when the beauty of the natural world provided endless discovery and the warmth of family created lasting memories.

This heartfelt memoir explores universal themes of resilience, love, loss, and the enduring power of memory, balancing humor with introspection as it chronicles the awakening curiosity of adolescence. Johnson’s beautifully crafted prose celebrates not just his own childhood, but invites readers to reflect on their own cherished memories while immersing them in a world where every season brought new lessons about life, family, and the ties that bind us together.

A celebration of simpler times and the profound impact of place and family on who we become.