Dreamtown: Pie Town, New Mexico

Pie Town sits at 8000' elevation. It originated, in the late 1800's, Nita thought, as a stopping point along the cattle drive from Springerville, Arizona to the railhead in Magdalena, New Mexico. Cowboys bought dried fruit here, and eventually pies. Indeed, we have been following a route through high, open grasslands all along the way. And, indeed, there are two local cafes which both serve excellent pie. By the way, we're talking 35 residents in town, and 150 in a 15 mile radius of town.

Alyce

Not just Toaster House, but the entire community, is a special sort of place. You know how the magazines do the articles on the ten best places to live in the US? This is one of those places that you hope the magazines never discover.

Tommy

Nita stopped by in the afternoon and told us about the Friday dinner at the Pie Town Cafe. Thus began the expansion of our experience, from the friendliness and generosity of Toaster House, to the friendliness and generosity of Pie Town. We had fried cod with cole slaw and hand cut fries, excellent by any standard. But the food was not as remarkable as the people. The Friday evening dinner is obviously a town social event. There was even a lower priced dish on the menu, such that most anyone could feel comfortable attending. Every table but one was reserved. All he locals were friendly to us, including Alyce, Michelle (our waitress who was handling the whole place, and whose dad came in for a hug while we were there), Ed, , and JY, Joan, and their son Tommy. Tommy later came to the Toaster House with three nice beers, Dominican cigars, fine guitar playing, and interesting conversation to finish our evening in style.



It was all so enjoyable, and we, so fatigued, that we changed our plans and spent another day.

Saturday, we tried the green chile stew at the Pie-o-neer. Great stuff!

Ajo

Later in the day, Ajo came by and regaled us with more good ale, oranges (bless you, Ajo) and stories of his time on THE ICE. He spent 10 years doing technical work in Antarctica.

Cougina magically summoned the energy to drag me to the dance at the community center. (I wanted to get my rest for the next day.) Sorry we didn't get photos! It was a blast, and I didn't want to leave. A country/western band, which was good enough to play an urban bar, IMO, played country favorites, and you know how we love to dance. Plus, we got to meet a bunch of new friendly people.

The striking thing about Pie Town was affirmed by Anna, the post mistress: the residents not only care for each other, but seem to accept each other. If you've lived in small towns, you know how the support and friendship is counterbalanced by gossip and jealousy. It gets revealed even to us as passersthrough. Cougina and I have noticed that, with all the people we have talked to here, no one has had anything but positive words to say about anyone else. Not even veiled neutrality. Just positive.

This is about the nicest thing I can think of that I could say about a place. If it were in our hearts to settle in one spot, I don't think we would need to look further than Pie Town.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA