IN MEMORIAM VINCE SALTAFORMAGGIO

Vince Saltoformagio passed away yesterday morning of a heart attack.

I've struggled for a day trying to decide what to say to his friends and those who didn't have the good fortune to know him. I decided the best memorial I could give was to just go back through my Blog and pull some entries I wrote as I met and came to call Vince a friend. The world will be a sadder place without him.

If you would like to see pictures, go to the blog dates. I thought they would make this entry way too long.

April 30, 2007

"I arrived at Mystic Springs Cove midday Friday. I had decided to make this my next stop because I wanted to check out another "Airstream only" park and I had won a Certificate for 2 free nights. Another "in between", there was a Vintage Airstream Rally going on. It seemed like everyone there had know everyone else there forever. And I didn't know a single person.

That lasted maybe 10 minutes. Immediately after my next door neighbor helped me park I was invited to a grouping of Vintage units to get a Margarita. What turned out to be the first of many. Vinnie and Lonnie were up from N'Awlin's. Lonnie must have made 10 gallons of Margaritas before the weekend was over.

Vinnie was responsible for Friday's dinner. Jambalaya with white beans and sausage. Even though it's a classic Cajun dish, Vinnie's was even better than usual.

Oh, did I tell you, their last name is Saltaformaggio. Yup, one of those 3rd generation Italian natives of New Orleans. Combining Cajun and Italian makes for some really great food.

But there are no words to describe the HOSPITALITY.

I told Lonnie at the end of the weekend that I felt more like a family member than a welcome guest. Immediately after dinner we ended up outside their trailer for more Margaritas, food, conversation and laughing. LOTS of laughing. It brought back great memories of growing up in Hancock, NY with the Fucci's, DaBrescia's and Possemoto's. It turned a little chilly so I contributed a bottle of Bacardi and Lonnie created an incredible buttered rum.

Since I had two free nights, the only charge for the weekend was the $10.00 Rally Fee. Which included that wonderful Jambalaya dinner, breakfast and dinner Sat, and "Toast and Coffee" and lunch on Sun.

That's what was officially included.

Unofficial perks included non-stop food and Margaritas, incredible new friends, and lots of my questions about Airstreams and Airstreaming answered under a bright blue Florida sky.

I didn't even make it to "Toast & Coffee" or lunch on Sunday because Vinnie and crowd had already fixed a breakfast of bacon, Italian sausage, eggs, hash browns, and cheese grits with garlic and spices. It's the first time in my life I ate a complete helping of grits. Anne Mollere from Jackson, MS, made them. I told her, 'Chunks of cardboard would be delicious with this much butter, cheese and seasonings.' Then I went back for seconds."

May 21, 2007

I literally "followed Vince and Lonnie home" and stayed at their place until the Canton, MS rally.

"I'm staying next to Vince and Lonnie's Motorhome on Irish Bayou, in the City of New Orleans. Although it's a little hard to say "New Orleans" and "Irish Bayou" in the same sentence without laughing out loud. I'll give you a hint - we're OUTSIDE the levees.

To be completely accurate, I'm at N30 7.9459 W89 52.0242. If you GoogleEarth it, you'll see two of Vince's Airstreams. The peninsula is about 3 miles long but it's criss-crossed with lagoons and bayous so where we're parked, it's less than 100 FEET wide from water to water.

Pre-Katrina it was a mix of commercial shrimpers and crabbers and weekend camps. There were over 100 buildings. Now there are about 15. Although more fishermen are gradually returning, the weekenders have found they can't justify the high insurance rates for a weekend place.

But what an incredible place to spend some quiet time. Less than 20 minutes from the French Quarter.

Friday Vince and I took his boat out for the day. Irish Bayou, Lake Borgne, Lake St Catherine, Lake Pontchartrain and a bunch of bayous so small they don't have names.

Then Saturday Vince, Lonnie and I trailered the boat to the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain and took a long ride on the Tchefuncta River, where Vince spent his weekends as a child.

Almost all of our neighbors here on the Bayou are watermen, so yesterday Vince walked across the road to our nearest neighbor's dock when he returned from the lake and bought 40 crabs - for $30.00. And with apologies to my Chesapeake Bay friends, they were the BEST I've ever had. Fat and juicy and sweet. A combination of Vince and Lonnie being great cooks AND the fact that it was less than 3 hours between the time the crabs had been swimming in the lake and when we dropped them into the pot."

August 6, 2007

"On Thursday, Vince and Lonnie came up from Irish Bayou. On Friday, Ronnie and Ann brought their vintage Airstream that's so shiny it blinds you.

In case you've forgotten, Vince's last name is Saltaformaggio. One of those old New Orleans Italian families. He loves to cook - outdoors over propane - and his food is INCREDIBLE. Thursday for the four of us he fixed Chicken Picata.

Friday for the six we had a catfish fry. He tried the dry batter that Karen sells and pronounced it "Pretty good." Ann made hush puppies that were simply perfect. Lonnie added a wonderful mayo free potato salad.

OF COURSE we had Ann's cheese and garlic grits each morning. And on Sunday Ronnie produced the world's lightest cinnamon buns - yeast rolls - 4" high - in a dutch oven - using charcoal.

I just got an email from a friend who said she hadn't read the blog as regularly as she should because, 1. It's been a very busy summer. and 2. "I have found that I am often hungry after reading of your adventures."

Sorry, Jul. I guess I just did it again !

But in all fairness, we don't JUST eat.

We drink, too.

Lonnie found a machine called a "Margarator". Which is a "Smoothie" machine that makes a gallon of perfect margaritas - and keeps them frozen AND slushy at the`same time. Not that they keep very long.

And we talk and talk and talk.

And laugh and laugh and laugh.

A LOT.

Even before we start drinking.

It's very hard to leave these incredible new friends. But, as Airstreamers say, I'll 'see them down the road.' "

October 18, 2007

"If you've been reading my blog since March, you may remember that I met Vince and Lonnie in FL, partied with them in MS and followed them home to New Orleans. I stayed with them on Irish Bayou for a few weeks before going to MS for the summer.

Tuesday Lonnie called and left a message, "We're in VA and can't remember exactly where you live. We're headed North on I-81 and plan to spend the night in a WalMart parking lot in Salem. Is that anywhere near you?"

After the first Margarita they said, "We're taking Jan to Nova Scotia for her birthday. Come with us."

After the second Margarita I said, "Sure. Why not. When are you coming back?"

They said, "We have to be back in Little Rock on the 28th. But we're not coming back down I-81. We're going across to Niagara Falls and home through Indiana."

After the third Margarita I said, "That's OK. I'll figure out how to get home from NY."

So Wed. afternoon, after getting a failed alternator belt replaced in Salem, we headed North. We spent the night at a Flying J Truckstop in Carlisle, PA.

This morning we got an early start and are now in a WalMart parking lot in Biddeford, ME. The drive through PA, NY, CT, MA, NH and into Maine was absolutely beautiful. The leaves are running about three weeks late so we're here for what is peak season in many areas.

October 24, 2007

"On Sunday Vince decided we should take a tour of Northern Maine along the "Old Canada Road". It starts about an hour North on I-95 from our campsite.

When we got off the Interstate and asked "How far to the Canadian border?", we were told, "Oh, about 2 1/2 hrs." Well, gee, it's be a shame to be this close and not go to Canada.

Then we saw a sign that said, "160km to Quebec City".

Gee, it's a shame to be this close and not go to Quebec City. Sooooo - on we went.

Vince did all the driving - actually Vince did all the driving every day. We all offered but he's a recovering long haul 18 wheeler jock and apparently needs a major mileage fix almost every day.

Thank you Vince for letting me a pure tourist.

We found a Farmer's Market on the waterfront. Lonnie bought some French Bread and fresh Mozzarella cheese. I mean FRESH - like the lady made it last night. It was wonderful. We met a French Canadian, Quebec City native who struggled to talk with us in very broken English. He kept apologizing for his English and we kept saying, "Please don't apologize. We don't speak your language at all."

YES ! We're sitting outdoors on a bright sunny 65 degree day. Our friend asked how long we were staying in his city. When we said, "Just today." He said, "Ooooooh, soooo luckeeeee." The typical temperature for this date is 38.

After a long drive back to Freeport, we collapsed for the night.

Tomorrow we part ways and I visit friends in NH.

December 2007 - I went back to Irish Bayou. This time for a few MONTHS instead of a few days. And the incredible hospitality of Vince and Lonnie didn't stop.

I flew to PA for Christmas and flew back to LA late Christmas day. Vince and Lonnie had already gone to Gulf Shores, AL for a gathering of the "Dixie Camperz". Ya see, two years ago, shortly after Katrina took most everything most everybody had down here, a group of Airstreamers were buoyed up by their Airstream friends. But they had several RV'ing friends that they loved camping with who didn't own Airstreams so they couldn't share the Airstream events.

So they formed The Dixie Camperz and invited their friends to a week long rally at Gulf Shores, AL. I've partied with the Airstream members several times but had not met the non-Airstream ones. Against some of the members better judgment it had been suggested that I might be considered for membership. Their initiation ceremony takes place only once a year, on New Year's Eve, at Gulf Shores.

I've already described the food that Vince prepares at these events, so I'll just say, "He did it again." Jambalaya, catfish, white beans and rice, seafood gumbo, and breakfasts so big, nobody ate lunch for five days.

I've tried for two weeks to figure out how to explain the atmosphere at the Initiation. For four days we heard things like, "We'll have to hold it early, the goat doesn't like cold water." They blocked one couple's trailer with a truck because they had threatened to chicken out and leave early. I am happy that I finally have found a way to describe it that the participants agree will help you understand. Please picture in your mind - - - - a five day party on M*A*S*H, The 4077th.

To make it clearer, I'll start with some quotations and then a picture.

YOU decide which are from M*A*S*H and which are from the Dixie Camperz -

"If we don't go crazy once in a while, we'll all go crazy."

"Insanity is just a state of mind."

OK - the quotes are from M*A*S*H.

But I think this gives you some idea about my new friends."

February 8,2008

"Wed, Jan 30 I went to my first Mardi Gras Parade. The Krewe of Cleopatra was the first all female Krewe on the West Bank. Which is a suburb area - and like most things in New Orleans that name causes normal people to scratch their head - it is due EAST of the city. But it's named correctly because it IS the WEST bank of the Mississippi. It's just that since the Mississippi is flowing due NORTH here....Oh, Never Mind. as one of the characters we spent some time with last week kept saying, "Deal with it."

Like the fact that the accent is very close to the Bronx or Brooklyn. Definitely Not Southern.

ANYWAY - Lonnie has been in the Krewe of Cleopatra for over 15 years. So our attendance was kinda required. And that's the ONLY reason we went. Because Vince says, "If it's not on St. Charles Avenue, it's not one of the REAL parades." But it was beautiful, we had a great time and it was a good training ground for me.

"HEY LADY, THROW ME SOME BEADS."

Then we went to The New Orleans School of Cooking. Some of us (me and several other men) weren't really excited about sitting for three hours to eat lunch. Even if we did get to see it prepared.


But the Chef, Ann Leonhard made it a really fun morning. We all wanted to stay and talk with her after it was officially over. When she started speaking, Vince kept mumbling, "I know that voice. I KNOW that voice."
After a few minutes, he asked her, "Ann, what's your last name?" She said, "Leonhard. But my maiden name was Ryan." And Vince said, "You're Mary's sister!" And Ann said, "You're a Saltaformaggio. I haven't seen you in years - how's your Mama doin'?" Vince's Mom passed away several years ago. Ann said, "This is going to sound terrible to you tourists, but Thank God she didn't live to see Katrina. Both my parents passed before Katrina, too. And it was such a Blessing. Those of us with older relatives know we never could have gotten them to leave their houses and if they didn't end up dead in their attics, the shock of seeing the devastation when they returned would have killed them."

After a few minutes of catching up - Vince's ex-wife was Mary's best friend. Vince introduced Mary and her husband way back when - Ann had Vince on stage keeping things stirred."

Rest in Peace.

Our Prayers go out to Lonnie and his two sons.