Carlota and Augustine Rivera standing in front of the collage of photos which holds a memory of generations. Carlota is holding a frame with a photo from their 25th wedding anniversary. They will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in June!
Los Pollitos
As I pulled into the driveway and parked, goats sounded in the background and I immediately felt like I was back at the house my grandparents had before moving to the coast. I didn’t realize yet just how nostalgic this interview was about to become — and there they were, Augustine and Carlota Rivera.
We settled into the living room where a bright, beautiful bouquet of flowers caught my attention. Carlota quickly explained she celebrated her 80th birthday at the end of January and the flowers were a gift from the family.
Augustine still remembers the first time that he saw Carlota. He said he knew she was the one. “She drove by and caught my eye, I’d never seen her before,” he said. “I thought to myself, I’m going to marry her.” And the rest is history — Augustine and Carlota married on July 19, 1952 and will celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary this year. They lived in various places until 1967 when they moved to Seadrift. After 60 years they now call Seadrift home.
We talked about the past, the present and I learned a lot about the couple in that hour. Augustine turned to me and said, “When I told my father I was getting married he offered me some advice. He said, son, a woman is not like a car. When she gets old, you don’t trade her in.”
The couple has been blessed with a large, caring family. The Rivera’s have six children: Richard, Lydia, Jerry, Augustine Jr., Eddie and Mary Alice. They also have 15 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren! Indeed, his dad’s advice has gone a long way.
Laughter echoed through out the house as we talked about nicknames we earn as children. They both chuckled when I told them mine. I have a habit of wearing my hair in a bun, always have, and probably always will. As a young child I was tall (in comparison to my family members) and skinny so my great aunt began to call me “Olive.” To this day when she calls to ask how everyone is, she says, “How is my Olive Oil?” My grandmother always laughs knowing exactly who she is referring to.
As Carlota went on chatting about all of the family, I realized how special the memories in the room I sat in were. Photos hung throughout the house memorializing all of the family moments. The couple started telling me about the collage of photos that hung in the living room. Their grandfathers, parents and siblings stood in faded, vintage photos. Even a photo with Carlota standing by the car that Augustine first met her in. I giggled when they brought out a photo from their 25th wedding anniversary. Augustine thought it was from a different year and Carlota said, “No, look at us, we were still pollitos (baby chickens) there.”
Carlota has the way of life figured out; her philosophy is to deal with things with care, kindness and calmness. “With a calm attitude, things will turn out for the best,” she said as she nodded her head. While she admits life is not always as you plan it, “Todo tiene su tiempo,” which means “Everything has it’s time.” As we got into a heavier subject, Augustine started to sing, “Ahora se que las cosas del mundo, son bonitas pero pasajeras.” Both are deeply rooted in their faith, the song he sang is a religious song which offers the advice, “Now I know beautiful things in the world are, they are beautiful but only passengers.” I felt at home once again, it reminded me of a song my grandma would sing as my grandpa whistled in the background.
“Life is short, but to be happy is all that counts,” Carlota echoed. Words to live by…Carlota. Thank you to the Rivera family for sharing their story with us, I hope that everyone out there is able to find their “pollito” and has a sweet, successful marriage. I wish Augustine and Carlota many more years of happiness. Happy Valentine’s Day, till next time.
