"I was living the dream - and what a dream it's been!" Ernie Nutting has lived not just one life but many, and lives that most people could scarcely imagine.

 

One of 13 kids, he grew up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan, where he developed his singular instinct for adventure. He's been a cattle baron, a rodeo impresario, a stand-in for Buffalo Bill, a bulk oil dealer, a tavern owner, a surveyor, a real estate entrepreneur, a horse trainer, and a movie consultant. Asked if he was a real cowboy, he replies, "I'll do until a real cowboy shows up."

 

His stories of white water rafting, hunting, bank robberies, tavern brawls and practical jokes have the ring of absolute authenticity (although he does slip in a couple of tall tales, and then challenges the reader to identify which of the stories they are).

 

Perhaps most of all, Ernie Nutting is a friend. The portraits he paints of the many unique individuals he's known, and the intense affection and respect with which he describes them, are unforgettable.

 

This is not a smooth book, nor is it meant to be, but the picture it presents of a life hard but well lived is  authentic and memorable.