From the suburban sprawl of 1960s Bloomington, Minnesota, to a stereotypical family farm in western Illinois, to a mid-sized enclave of oil and rusted iron in Ohio, the life journey of Mike Pickett ambles through the last gasp of the Industrial Age and into a digitized world where we imagine ourselves to be different from the thousands of generations that preceded us. These moral-laced stories are full of beauty, joy, struggle, and determination, utilizing the backdrop of some rather unique moments: a chat with Neil Armstrong days after his moon landing, a 30-year feud with Cal Ripken, three hours of vodka lemonades with Arnold Palmer, Alex Trebek toasting his marriage and, a bout of thievery in the Clinton White House.

Through them all, these elegant, ageless tales of transition celebrate family love and sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption.

Book Review 1:

Michael Pickett's marvelous collection of Tales are sometimes hilarious, sometimes somber. The Tales are always genuine and beautifully written as this talented scribe records his adventures straddling two very different chapters of the American Experience. -- Dr. David Wood Author, Reviewer, Former Vice President of the National Book Critics Circle, and Books Editor, Mpls Star & Tribune

Book Review 2:

Mike Pickett is a writer who pays attention to everyday events and ordinary people on a march through time. Because of his remarkable curiosity and sense of connection, he savors encounters and shares them in this readable, fun and thought-provoking book. Fellow travelers of all ages will appreciate this collection of Tales--short, graceful vignettes and surprising anecdotes, compellingly crafted and ranging in topics from sports and celebrities to family ties. The Tales are animated by Pickett's ability to mix humor with vivid descriptions and insight into the bigger picture. -- Book editor, Cecelia MacDonald, Co-Author, Running the Cobblestones