RUNNING MUSKRAT!

Running Muskrat a.k.a. 'Ken'

As we cruised along the NYS Thruway, heading south from Albany, I sat next to a gentleman in the back seat who at first glance seems no more different than anyone else. However that persona is not the real man, the real man is one of America’s Native American’s! We refer to him as Ken, his adopted American name, but his real name is: Running Muskrat!

Driving through the scenic north-central part of New York State, Running Muskrat would suddenly jump from his normal sedate position and point out a hawk, or a deer, or even a cow, taking pride in his knowledge and passing it along to his fellow travelers. He is what you could call an Indian Guide, making me feel like General Custer on his way to the Little Big Horn get together.

Running Muskrat: a clan member of the Hoakie tribes that live in the wilderness of America on reservations, but come anyway, can be found often looking for his wampum or maybe his peace-pipe, which as his fellow tribe members do, will tend to misplace them.

Bronzino

Often when we as a group travel and need a place to stop and eat, we stop at Running Muskrat’s old reservation on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, where Running Muskrat will hook us up with the native tee-pee’s that specialize in fine Native American-Italian cooking. Running Muskrat can often be seen enjoying Bronzino a fish native to Amityville, or if you catch him early enough, rabbit.

The Hoakie Tribe has been know for their prowess with skiing down mountains at breakneck speeds, screaming in their native tongue, “Get there early on Arthur Avenue, we need a parking space!”