EDITORIAL: Return to Tucumcari? Well, of course

The Royal Register News

by Royal Register Editor & Ted Escobar
| November 30, 2011 5:00 AM

Just about the time you think you've seen it all, or heard it all, something new happens.

I was standing in the middle of a fort-like playground in Denton, Texas last Wednesday, watching a couple of grandkids play, when I answered my phone.

"Is this Ted Escobar?" the sweet, elderly-sounding woman asked.

Yes ma'am, it is.

"Well, this is .............. from Royal City."

I'm 2,000 miles away, and I'm floored. I have no idea who I'm speaking with, but the call is sort of intriguing. It makes me feel as if I'm really a part of the Royal City community.

"Are you still in Texas?" she asked.

Oh, I thought, she has a relative she'd like me to contact for some real important reason. I'm up for that. I love meeting people. You can't write a good column without them.

Yes, I responded.

"Are you coming back the same way?" she asked.

Yes ma'am, I am.

"Are you stopping in Tucumcari?"

I can if you'd like me to.

"Well, my husband and I passed that way about a month ago and stopped in Tucumcari. We left something at the hotel there."

All kinds of thoughts raced through my mind in that instant. What could it be? Must be something really valuable. Maybe there's a reward involved.

Before the caller could tell me what she had left, she started to apologize for the phone call and the request. She had no idea that I wasn't bothered at all.

I told her not to fret. I was happy to be of help. Besides, this was getting better by the minute.

"Well, we left a couple of pillows. My husband and I take pillows when we travel. You know, sometimes hotel pillows are small."

It was something valuable! I know.

Pat and I never travel without pillows. We use them in the car and in hotels. Pat falls asleep reading. So she props herself up with about four pillows.

I told the woman I'd be glad to stop in Tucumcari. She said that first she would check with the hotel, a Hampton Inn, to see if it hadn't discarded the pillows. A few minutes later, she called back.

"This is that silly old lady again," she said. "Wouldn't you know it. The hotel mailed the pillows today."

Well, she wasn't a silly old lady. I would have been glad to bring her pillows home. I hope she calls again. I'd like to meet her.

I am especially attracted to people with initiative. This lady did whatever it took to locate me. I'm still flattered by that. And she made Pat smile.

I'd at least like to know the woman's name. She said it so quickly that I didn't catch it.