Cosmo and Silvia make a stop in a charming town just west of Albuquerque, New Mexico, modeled after Tucumcari. Named after a nearby mountain, this small city exudes Southwest charm, featuring vintage hotels and restaurants built as early as the 1930s that are still in operation today. The town offers travelers a nostalgic glimpse into the early days of New Mexico travel along historic routes.
It is here that Cosmo experiences the profound sound of the desert wind. “It sounded close and far away at the same time. It was strong, but it didn’t sound like it was fighting with the world around it. It passed through everything in a most unobtrusive way. It made him quiet inside, and through the quiet, he could hear a part of himself that sounded different from his usual dull and cynical inner voice.”
While exploring, the siblings enter a gift store and meet Crazy Ted, a modern-day cowboy originally from Pennsylvania. Ted shares stories of his late wife, Rosemary, who was Native American. Despite her passing, Ted seems to keep her memory alive in a tangible way. Cosmo observes, “As he went on about Rosemary, Cosmo could almost see her standing beside her husband, as if his words had resurrected her, or as if she had never left his side.”
This encounter highlights the rich culture, storytelling, and enduring traditions of the Southwest, leaving Cosmo and Silvia with a sense of wonder and connection to the land and its people.
This post is from my blog series on the places visited in the road trip story, “Discovery of an Eagle.”
Grace Mattioli is the author of the Greco Family Trilogy books, including Olive Branches Don’t Grow on Trees, Discovery of an Eagle, and The Bird that Sang in Color. These books are available from all major online book sellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.
