VIDALIA — Janice Cutrera decided to kick off her summer in the Miss-Lou, partly hoping to reconnect with a childhood friend some time during Memorial Day weekend.

Gwen Young, who now teaches at Trinity Episcopal Day School, grew up with Cutrera in Bayou Vista, La. Cutrera is hoping to catch up with Young after Trinity’s graduation today.

“The last time I saw her was when she and her husband got married,” Cutrera said. “That was 31 years ago.”

Cutrera remembers trips with Young’s family.

“I remember (Young’s) mother used to dress us up in the same outfits, like we were twins,” Cutrera said.

In the meantime, Cutrera and her husband, Charlie, are going to spend time with their RV travel partners Ricky and Patti Monceaux of New Iberia, La., at River View RV Park

“We are going to sightsee and eat at some of the restaurants,” she said.

“We’ll also donate some of our money at the casino,” Charlie Cutrera said.

Janice Cutrera said the weekend was a chance to celebrate good friends and good food.

“I love the view of the river,” she said. “And the mosquitoes have not carried us off yet.

“We are just out enjoying our middle age.”

The Cutrera family would not be complete without the two dogs, Ginger and China, Patti Monceaux said.

“They love this as much as we do,” Patti Monceaux said.

“Yeah, if we crank up the motor home they jump in and won’t move,” Janice Cutrera said.

The Clark and Pope families from Denham Springs, La., also visited River View RV Park to start their summer with some fishing and cooking.

James Clark said all the children just got out of school and the parents had a three-day weekend so taking the RV out was the best way to kick off summer.

“The Popes and the Clarks are longtime friends — we were raised together,” Clark said. “Some people recommended this area to us, and it has been excellent so far.”

Becca Clark, James’ wife, caught the first fish Saturday morning at 1 a.m.

“I caught a big catfish,” Becca Clark said. “I had a bigger one on the line this morning, but I lost him at the bank.

“This has been fun — I love to fish.”

Chance Pope, 7, who has been fishing since he was three, just wanted to get out of the house.

“I like going fishing and swimming, but I like fishing the most,” he said.

Chad Pope, who is Chance’s father, said if they catch enough fish this weekend, they will fry some. They brought some extra fish to cook just in case the catfish were not biting.

“It is very nice to get out of the big city atmosphere,” Pope said. “This is our first time here, but we’ll be back.”