As about 25 of us have done for years, we gathered once again at the Willis home in Chico, Calif., for a pre-Thanksgiving event that kicks off our holiday season. The children have gotten a year older - and so have we adults - and the stubborn-to-cook turkey only added to the evening, enabling us all to spend a little more time with each other. Patty's turkey, Shari's broccoli and rice, Elise's creamed corn, Anna's stuffing, Connie's salad, Mary's potatoes, and Donna's desserts were all hits. Photos by Alan Sheckter / alsheck@comcast.net