Serving the High Plains

Why Tucumcari? Why not Tucumcari?

During my duties as the new reporter for the Quay County Sun, I met quite a few area residents. They asked questions.

"Where did you come from?"

"How long have you lived here?"

"How did you end up here?"

One question often arose: "Why Tucumcari?"

I tried to answer that as succinctly as possible. But a few responses had me mentally backtracking and thinking a proper answer should have been:

"Why not Tucumcari?"

The Cliff Notes on my background: Grew up on a Midwest farm five miles from the nearest town (population: 1,200). Lived in Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma. Worked for seven newspapers (the Sun is No. 8). Other stints included a western-wear retailer, a truck stop, a grain-bin factory and a feed store.

As for what brought my wife and me to Quay County, one can credit - or blame - Route 66. We began exploring the historic highway nearly 20 years ago. One of those must-stops on 66 was - and is - Tucumcari's Blue Swallow Motel. Over time, we became drawn to New Mexico - especially Tucumcari and other parts of Quay County. We traveled to the Land of Enchantment at least two-dozen times, and Tucumcari became a base for those explorations. We planned to move to Quay County by 2021. But my wife in October unexpectedly landed a teaching job at an area school district and moved to Tucumcari. I followed in January after tying up loose ends 900 miles east.

As for "why Tucumcari?" We adore the intense blue skies, low humidity, mild winters, cultures, history, cuisine, scenery, affordable cost of living and, of course, Route 66. We've befriended several people in Tucumcari's Main Street of America.

"Why Tucumcari?" queries often come with quizzical looks. Once we explain, they sometimes get it. But we've learned from other locales the question often reveals a failure to look deeper at their town and count the blessings they have.

It's understood Tucumcari, like many small towns on the High Plains, is struggling. The problems are real. But its strong points are real, too, and shouldn't be ignored.

Why Tucumcari?

Why not, indeed?

Ron Warnick is a senior writer at the Quay County Sun. He can be reached at [email protected] or rwarnickqcsunonline

@gmail.com