Chairman’s Message

November Chairman's Message

Thanksgiving preparations start early at our house. The night before, my wife, Mary, starts setting the tables. If I’m lucky, there’s some baking being done, with dessert in need of taste testing. It’s tradition now for my daughter Amanda to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Katie makes Mexican wedding cookies, or what we call Grandpa’s Favorite Cookies. A.J. makes his famous broccoli cheddar casserole, adding a secret ingredient, like a sprinkling of potato chips, every year. I make the turkey and mashed potatoes, and Mary makes the stuffing and seemingly a dozen other side dishes and desserts. Still more food is brought by the rest of the family with whom we’re blessed to spend the day.

Growing up, I hated a lot of the food that was served at Thanksgiving: cranberry sauce, Brussels sprouts, broccoli. (Okay, I still don’t like those things.) Now, though, as a father and grandfather, I see that it was a way of bringing us together at the table—my parents, my three brothers, and me.

On Thanksgiving, it’s impossible not to think about how our family has changed over the years—the people we’ve lost and also the people we’ve gained. The wives and children; sons- and daughters-in-law; nieces and nephews and grandkids. Our house loud with laughter and conversation, grandkids asking to play and, just like we used to, loudly refusing all but the most familiar foods: where are the nuggets and fries!

As the family gathers around to say Grace, I think of my mom and dad and our table for six. They would be so proud of how our family has grown. So grateful. And so am I.

Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving,

Adolfo E. Gutierrez