The Truth About Tucumcari New Mexico

I have failed miserably at becoming a travel writer. I am envious of Paul Theroux, Pico Iyer, William Least Heat Moon, and John Steinbeck, who can make magic with a vehicle on the road.

For several years I travelled the country, logging in at 49 states -- minus North Dakota-- and writing stories, sending them to editors, getting me an agent, and then finally, giving up and putting everything on the internet without thoughts of futher publication.

The result is FOUR CORNERS - A LITERARY EXCURSION ACROSS AMERICA, a top 5 percent of the web travel book. It just sits on the web gathering a rather weird bunch of fellow travelers.

The top story in the collection is about TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO. Numerous people have travelled through Tucumcari, read my story, and told of changed lives. Some were original inhabitants, ashamed of their hometown, who wrote to say, "I was ashamed of Tucumcari, but since reading your story, I am excited about the town I came from." Not bad, I say.

Anyway, here is the latest FANMAIL from a lady named Rhonda. Listen to her story and her attack on my feel of Tucumcari. "RHONDA, I REALLY LOVE TUCUMCARI AND WANT TO GO BACK." ENJOY !!!!

Subject: Tucumcari New Mexico
Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2005 12:01:17 -0600

An unknown, always exciting. Tucumcari New Mexico is within 35 miles of 2 wonderful lakes, the Conchas and the Ute. What a wonderful place to have a home that is convenient to our favorite fishing lakes and yet we are 2 blocks from most convienences. We bought our home there 3 years ago. We drive 3 hours every weekend to go home. Home Sweet Home.

One day driving, I saw a young man, cowboy hat, on the sidewalk by the grocery store. He was practicing his roping, I'd guess while mama was in shopping.  Only in Tucumcari. I can guarantee none of HIS shirt buttons were broke.

Next time there, go to meet my neighbors, 50 year residents, and two of the sweetest people I have ever known. Within months he was our Pop, and she our Edith. Not one project did we start that Pop didn't help or bring his homemade contraption to move, pull up, or lift. 

Go to Tucumcari Ranch Supply on Saturday morning and see the employees eating breakfast burritos from La Cochina De Raul where they also make homemade rellenos. Oh, and Jim the owner of the ranch supply buys the burritos for his people every Saturday morning and they are delivered.

I was alone for lunch on New Years Day the 2nd year there. I went to Del's restaurant and lo an behold was served black eyed peas in addition to the beans. My kind of town!!!!! Last year I went to the grocer to buy them and they were almost out. My kind of people, my kind of town.

You certainly missed out seeing the Center Gift and Gallery. Owned by two elderly people, he does wonderful matting and they have wonderful western art. Oh and they are closed on Saturday but if you knock they are probably there and stop and pet their two small dogs.

I bet you have never been to a Dinosaur Museum. Fun for all ages!

I thank you for the information about the old museum. I am taking the 3 grandkids next Saturday. Now I have more information. They would have spent hours at the Craft Fair last weekend had I not nudged them along. Yes, they moved to Tucumcari and live across the street from us. Who could ask for anything more, kids, fishing and a small country town. Another plus is we can go to Albuquerque, NM or Amarillo TX by jumping on the freeway if we feel a need.

Too bad your eyes were only on Tucumcari long enough to give the impression that all of us smell, are dirty, tattooed and devoid of laughter. I cannot see the names of the motels you listed as morbid. We have no Bates Motel. On the other hand we do have a Holiday Inn and many other nice motels. I guess it is according to your budget.

In the whispering twilight between rooms, one sees animated conversation between fat women with tattoos and men with cowboy hats and broken-buttoned shirts. There always seems to be an air of disquiet, as if someone has been cheated out of a good-time. There is no laughter. A small bottle is often passed circumspectedly between the victims of the shadowless night. Most of the motels need painting.

At least, at the end of your story, you had an inkling of what you missed. I will search for more of your stories.

Have a good day,

Rhonda