The Jocotepec residents married in 1956; their greatest fortune was their seven children
In front of the Señor del Monte, where the Miranda Naranjo couple renewed their vows in September 2021. Photo: Miguel Cerna.
Miguel Cerna (Jocotepec).- Ricardo Miranda Ramos and Carmen Naranjo Hidalgo have been married for 65 years; despite the passage of time, the spark of their love is still intact.
Sitting in the garage of their house on Independencia Street in the municipal capital of Jocotepec, Carmen, 83, and Ricardo, 85, recalled their experiences of more than six decades and, although they had many ups and downs, they are still united by love.
In September of last year, they renewed their marriage vows in front of the eyes of the Lord of the Mount, the patron saint of the people of Jocotepec since 1833.
Although the passing of the years has taken its toll on them, their hearts have not withered. The vivacity of their relationship is still present in the way they look at each other, the touch of their hands, and the shared laughter.
For the couple, their marriage, from the beginning and until today, is based on three aspects: respect, love, and communication. As well as in the small day-to-day details on Ricardo’s part, which Carmen responds to with her care and attention.
«From the moment I wake up until I go to sleep, I can’t stop giving my wife a little something, anything. But I always tell her: ‘how pretty you are, how pretty you look, wear this, wear that, put your flower here’; every day, from the moment I get up and go down the stairs, I come clowning around, giving her compliments, until I go to bed,» Don Ricardo shared.
They met the old-fashioned way in the Jocotepec of the fifties: walking around the Main Square. It was a Sunday, he courted her with a bouquet of flowers and she accepted; he offered her his companionship and she said yes.
Although for Carmen Naranjo that was the first time she saw him, Ricardo already intended to fall in love with her, because when he met her, he was totally smitten. At that time, she was 16 years old and he was 18.
«There was a time when there was a fair and Carmen was very beautiful, pretty and knew how to dress and show off what she wore; she danced with a tambourine and when she turned around, she showed her legs. So I followed her and said: ‘I’m not leaving’,» Miranda Ramos said mischievously.
Their romance was quick, in less than a year they were already at the altar to get married, it was on September 18, 1956, determined to «make a life» together. From the fruit of their love seven children were born: Mercedes, Irma, Norma, Pedro, Francisca, Liliana and Marcela.
The history of their marriage has been marked by sacrifice, beginning with their separation so that Ricardo Miranda could emigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities in life, since at that time Lakeside did not have an economy that he could prosper in.
Although their first years together were difficult because of his comings and goings, the distance, the pilgrimage through different homes and the growth of their children, they remained firm, always thinking of their future.
«It was very difficult, but we were very happy. Any small gesture for us was nice. He always wanted the best for me. He made my stove with his own hands, he would bring me my firewood to cook for him, and he was happy with me cooking him a pot of beans and throwing in a hot tortilla with a chili,» Carmen recalled.
Their effort and persistence little by little began to pay off, and by the 1970’s, the Miranda Naranjo family managed to settle in Los Angeles, California, where they worked long hours, even at night, to support their children, give them an education and build a future.
As a couple, they always thought about their old age, so they worked as a team to achieve better living conditions, in addition to being able to retire peacefully.
«Our biggest goal we had was to make a future for when we were older, we didn’t want to be a burden for our children, so that has always been our concern; we wanted to have something for tomorrow. And in that, bless God, he helped us.
Now, every day is a gift that they take advantage of, whether it is going out to eat, going for a walk around the Chapala area, to the Jocotepec boardwalk or any other place they feel like visiting.
Together, since 2002 they have maintained a website and social networking site called Jocotepec.com, in which they try to bridge the gap between the town and those who had to migrate north, like they did, in search of better opportunities.
«Our motivation with the page was that all the people had the opportunity, which we didn’t have, to communicate, to know what was happening in the town. Many people came here (home) and liked to send greetings to their relatives. We would make videos and their parents would see them there (in the United States),» concluded Carmen Naranjo.
In addition to not letting the flame of love die out, Ricardo Miranda advises young couples to respect each other and base their relationship on this value, because when it disappears, the bonds are broken.
«I advise couples that if they do not respect each other from the beginning… it will not work.»
Translated by Rebecca Zittle
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