I'm from Dixon, Illinois.
I visited New Orleans once in my life - to complete the last wishes of my brother, Fred Pierce. Before he died he asked to have ashes scattered into the Mississippi from a certain spot on the levee.
He loved New Orleans, and thought of Mike Stark, owner of The Little Shop of Fantasy, as his mentor/muse. Fred would tell you he was an actor first and mask-maker second. Mike sold Fred's masks at the shop.
After Fred died I wrote or called persons unknown at the Little Shop of Fantasy. That's when I first encountered Ann and Laura Guccione - over the phone.
It took a minute before we became friends for life.
Imagine this:
It is a comfortably warm New Orleans night. The year is 2000. Its Mardi Gras. You are walking down St. Anne's, a narrow old street on the heart of the French Quarter. The first things you hear are the sounds of a Dixieland Jazz band. Then you notice a lot - and I mean a lot - of people filling the street. My first thought: this has to be a movie because it is too perfectly cast. There were beautifully costumed people everywhere.
Suddenly the only person I had actually met before - 2 hours before - recognized me and called out my name. Heads turn. Then it really begins. One after another friends of Fred came up introduce themselves. There were so many others that I lost track.
All the while another side of my brain is screaming, "find the magicians who produced this magic" - the sisters Guccione, Ann and Laura. Finally I excused myself to go look for them. I was expecting to find two women in their forties, probably comfortably reubenesque, with graying hair. Wrong! They are in their late twenties. They are stunningly beautiful and that beauty flows from the inside. You just know that as time goes on they will become classically great looking women.
Ann presented me with a box of wonderfully wrapped tiny packages of Fred's ashes. I distributed them to his friends. Ann and Laura also produced candles in glass jars embellished with a picture of one of Fred's masks above his name. There must have been a least a hundred candles handed out. Meanwhile, the same thing was being done by Mike Stark's sister. It was Mike who inspired Fred to start making feathered masks which Mike then sold through his store, the Little Shop of Fantasy. It was to that shop we had all come. Both Fred and Mike passed away last year.
And suddenly the Last Parade began. It was really like a whole lot of friends walking down the street together. The band led us towards the Mississippi River. Everything was casual, comfortable, and with all those costumes, really quite beautiful. We only walked 6 to 8 blocks - 4 of which were along the river front park.
We came to the steps leading down to the mother waters of the mighty Mississippi. Judy, Mike's sister, and I walked down the steps and asked everyone to gather. First I said a few words thanking everyone for honoring Fred and Mike in such a meaningful and touching way. Then Judy explained why this was so appropriate. We turned to the river, threw our packages of ashes in, and welcomed both spirits back to Mardi Gras forever.
Following the ashes feathers were tossed in honor of Mike and Fred's talented use in mask making. People stood around and talked awhile. Very gently it started to sprinkle. Were Fred and Mike letting us know that it was over?
I will never forget the sights, sounds. and memories of Mike and Fred's last parade. Ann and Laura Guccione, with a supporting cast of millions attending Mardi Gras, have my eternal gratitude for producing their Last Parade.
If you feel during this Mari Gras something is missing, look around for Ann and Laura. If you can't find them, just call on Mike and Fred. They are looking right over your shoulder no matter where you might be.
That's why New Orleans isn't going away any time soon.
Le bon temps roulon et roulon et roulon
Tomorrow - Ann and Laura, and the secret to New Orleans survival not to mention the soul of a nation