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On a fall day in 1981, Ricardo Ramirez accepted an offer to become a bishop in San Antonio, Texas.
At StoryCorps, he remembered the dozens of phone calls he made that day.
One of the first was to his grandmother Panchita Espitia.
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
On a fall day in 1981, Ricardo Ramirez accepted an offer to become a bishop in San Antonio, Texas.
At StoryCorps, he remembered the dozens of phone calls he made that day.
One of the first was to his grandmother Panchita Espitia.
Broadcast History
NPR's Morning Edition
Transcript
Bishop Ricardo Ramirez (RR): I was asked to be a bishop, and there was going to be a reception for me, so, I called my grandmother. She was one of these women who lived out in the ranches, who would grab a rattlesnake by the tail and snap its head off. She was strong and she raised this big family.
Well, two or three days before the party, my grandmother arrives. I ask, “What have you been doing lately?” And she said, “I’ve been having a good time.”
“Wow, what do you do at 90 years old to have a good time?”
She says, “Oh son, I have been going to funerals.”
I said, “You have been having a good time at funerals?”
“Oh yes. Yes, we drink coffee, we tell stories, we meet old friends—it’s wonderful. We have a great time.”
I said, “Grandma, how can you have a good time when somebody dies?”
She looked at me, straight into my eyes. And she was serious, almost scolding me, and she s...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:Time now for StoryCorps...the project recording stories of everyday Americans.
Today, we hear from Bishop Ricardo Ramirez.
He came to StoryCorps to remember his grandmother, Panchita Espitia.
...and a story that began in 1981 -- in San Antonio, Texas.
OUTRO:Bishop Ricardo Ramirez in Mesilla, New Mexico.
His grandmother's funeral was the first one he performed as a bishop.
His interview will be archived with all Storycorps' interviews at the Library of Congress.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Volvere | Antonio Bribiesca | Dos Pueblos, Dos Guitarras. | Orefon | 2011 | 00:19 |
Additional Credits
Capella University
Related Website
Ben Hartford
Posted on October 05, 2012 at 11:52 PM | Permalink
Beautiful
Regardless of your beliefs, none can argue that this is anything but a beautiful remembrance of a Bishop's grandmother. Thank you for the stories you continue to bring us.