Publisher's Synopsis
The bygone days of the 19th century are quickly becoming whispers among many historians. But Alvin Mikkelsen's memoirs resurrects memories of cattle drives, buck skinners, mountain rendezvous, cowboys and Indians, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and iconic pioneers of country music like Ernest Tubb and Gene Autry. "I've been coaxed by many folks to set down highlights that happened to me throughout the years. I don't see anything outstanding about anything I've done. But for some reason they think I've had quite a unique and unusual life." Thanks to his daughter, Cecilia, finding his dictations from the 1980s, you'll have the pleasure of learning about his passion for his guitar and music, his notorious one-liners, and his immense love for his country and his family. Alvin's raw recollections are mainly about survival. Surviving times of finding enough money to keep food on the table. Surviving working at any kind of job to keep the family unit together, while leaving them weeks and months at a time. Surviving blizzards, tornadoes, dust storms, floods, bar fights and saddle sores. In spite of the hardships life challenged him with, they never took a toll on his spirit. "Old Rawhide" always had a smile on his face, and a twinkle in his sky blue eyes. While shaking a person's hand firmly, he'd give them a warm pat on the back followed by, "I'm so glad you got to meet me," which would often take them by surprise. Many people in the Dakotas and around the country still remember Alvin's old-timey music, his great sense of humor, and his antics (you might even recognize a few names). Alvin was particularly well-known for hours of story-telling (sometimes accompanied by his guitar), and a sense of humor served up with strong cups of coffee, or even a beer or two. So sit back and sit a spell for real-life tales, a little bit of orneriness, many historical details, and the Life, Loves and Music of Alvin C. "Rawhide" Mikkelsen: Trapper, Philosopher, and Ambassador of Honesty and Good Will. As Dale Evans and Roy Rogers sang as they rode off into the sunset, "Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then."
