Mexican Reunion - Mexico City Apr. 14 1996
FROM: Moshe A. Shaltiel (Aboard Mexicana Airline flight to Chicago)
TO: Miles Saltiel
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Philippe and Beatrice Saltiel, from Arles France, wrote to me of their plans to visit Mexico City to see their son Laurent and their new daughter-in-law Kim. The newest Saltiel couple have been living in Mexico City for about six months, Laurent working for Michelin. Philippe asked me if I knew any of the Mexican Saltiels, as he wanted to use the occasion of this trip to visit with the family.
A call to Corrina, Ed Motola's Mom, created an amazing regional reunion. When Gila and I received the invitation we could not refuse a free meal and we flew in. We had a double win: two free dinners! The night before the party we were invited to Shabat dinner at the elegant apartment of Nellie Saltiel De Lazar. For those who don't know Nellie, she is a unique lady. She runs her real estate business, enjoying her many grandchildren and, at the same time operating her radio. She is the famous radio ham whom King Hussein of Jordan, also a ham radio operator, invited for a visit when she told "His Highness" that she was planning a trip to Israel.
Nellie surprised me when unbeknown to us she invited Philippe and his family to join the dinner. Poor Philippe had only called trying to find me and Nellie ordered him and his family to dinner, "As you are" within 10 minutes. The hostess, who is my "half second cousin," (Ed Motola will explain what it means) had invited her entire family for the dinner. Her three beautiful (and smart, they are all professionals with Ph.D.s) daughters, sons in law, nephews and niece and a zillion kids. Gila was honoured to light the candles and I was given the opportunity to make the blessing.
The "Main Event" which was officially billed as a party to honour Phillipe, yours truly, and the missus started at the Latin time of 9 p.m. sharp. The invitation called for half past seven, and we, of course, made it on time and spent more than an hour alone with the help. Chema is a perfect host, and with the help of his lovely wife, was able to turn a small regional reunion to an experience we will never forget. The elegant tables, the band of Mexican musicians who were able to perform the Hava Nagila - which has become a fixture at Saltiel reunions, the gourmet food and some seventy guests all looked even more impressive against the background of a magnificent house and stunning landscaping. As young Laurent said to his father, Philippe: "Now I believe."
I am happy to report that just about everyone at the party is planning to come to the 1997 reunion in Salonika, (that is if Telis gets us the deal we want with the hotel). Miles will soon be getting a bunch of new subscriptions, and neither Gila nor I has so far been inflicted with Montezuma's Revenge.
At the brunch that Gila and I hosted today at the Marquise I summed up the event by declaring to the worried Chema that I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the party was an incredible success, the bad news is that we are going to do it every other week.