Fondest Memory

Number 36

 One of my favorite memories with Papu is going to the dairy  farm with him when I was about six years old. I got to meet the ranchers he worked with and got to meet their ranch dog named “Pulgas”. Pulgas was really energetic and had white hair like a mop. There were rows and rows of cows in their pens and lots of livestock out in the pasture. I remember seeing one of the other ranchers/Papu’s friend haul gigantic bundles of hay off of the truck with ease and Papu telling me that he did the same thing. I remember being in shock that he hauled that much everyday and I remember being in awe about how strong he must have been to do that. After meeting Pulgas and the other ranchers, I got to walk through the inside of the facility where they would extract the milk from the cows. Papu explained to me how it worked and kept me safe when I was walking along the inside of the facility. I remember the cows being so much bigger than I was and remember wondering how they must have moved the cows up there to be milked. After that Papu took me outside to the stalls were I would be able to see all the cows faces/heads. I can’t remember if the stalls were where they would eat but I do remember that they wouldn’t be able to move as easily there so it was safe to walk around them. Papu told me to never walk behind a cow because of how hard they can kick. I asked if he had ever gotten kicked and he said yes. I remember thinking how bad that would have hurt given how huge their legs were! We walked down the stalls and Papu asked me which one was my favorite cow. I looked around and the one that stood out to me was one of the only brown spotted cows there. He told me that cow’s name was number 36. All I remember after this was that we went back home and told Mema about Number 36. 

I have so many great memories with Papu but this memory is one of my favorites and one that seems to stand out to me when I think back. He was such a hard worker, a great father/grandfather and had so much love for his family. I am forever thankful for him, his love and his presence in my upbringing.

FONDEST MEMORY OF PAPU

My best memories are going with him to the tamale truck on weekends. In the morning, we would go to the tamale factory to pick them up.  We would drive to the corner of Tyler and Cook or park at Lake Mathews. We would prop up the metal sides of the utility truck with a wooden pole and this created our roof that offered shade to sit under. We then unfolded 4 metal chairs for customers to sit on. 

Those tamales were soooo good! They were wrapped in paper, and he would sell 12 tamales for $10. A can of soda was 75 cents.  Papu was so popular!!! He almost always sold out. People would park their cars next to the truck come out to sit on the chairs in the dirt lot.  The tamales were drenched in Louisianan hot sauce which added a delicious tangy flavor. People who sit and talk to Papu for a long time about anything.

I remember an old white lady who had a bunch of kids and didn’t have money. She asked Papu, “I don’t have money but will you trade a dozen tamales for one sandwich? I will make you the best sandwich with everything in it.” He told her yes. She came back 30 minutes later and gave him a sandwich that didn’t look appetizing at all. It was dripping in mayo and lettuce and ham. Papu gave her a dozen tamales and he ate the sandwich which I’m not sure he liked. But he ate it with a smile. 

I remember this because he didn’t have to do that. This showed me how nice he was and how giving he was towards others who needed help. The lesson I learned is to give to others and help people when they need it.

The other thing I learned about business is that your product or service doesn’t have to be fancy.  We sold out of tamales every weekend while selling them in a dirt lot from a white utility truck with peeling paint.  But the tamales were excellent.  If you give people value, a good price and excellent service with a smile, you will create raving fans for your business.

Another time we were parked at Lake Matthews and witnessed an argument between two guys towing a boat and a really buff military guy in uniform. They stopped right in front of us at the stop sign and the military guy was going ballistic on those two guys. He was screaming at them and I thought the two guys were going to jump him. Papu was screaming at all the guys, encouraging them to fight. “Beat them up, hit him!” Papu loved “La Lucha,” and I think he wanted to watch the Lucha live with free tickets for us. 

Papu wasn’t afraid of anyone. What a fearless man. I admired him for this. 

I became a successful entrepreneur because of him. I owe it to him. 

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Miguel Gutierrez

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Miguel Angel Gutierrez

August 7, 1934 – February 11, 2023

Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park and Mortuary

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