I Love New Mexico

Post 1 on supporting small business in New Mexico – Terry’s Floral and Gifts in Logan, NM

The best thing about being the blog writer is that you get to pick your topics. Today I want to start my daily series on supporting small business in New Mexico by talking about Terry’s Floral and Gifts in Logan. You see, this used to be my business, but in a different location and with a coffee shop thrown in. When I realized, as a single mom with a teenager, that selling coffee and flowers in Logan wasn’t keeping my boat afloat, my mom bought it from me.

But she didn’t want to sell coffee. So instead she is the florist. And sells a bit of Mexican Talavera pottery and tin mirrors and a lot of second hand treasures along with the flowers, all from a shop behind her house on Highway 54 in Logan at 1008 Yucca Street.

My mom, Betty Terry, is 85 right now. In July, she’ll be 86. Those may seem like daunting numbers to those of you under 50, but anyone who knows Betty Terry knows that she’s still an energetic powerhouse of entrepreneurship. Today she’s planning her flower order for Mother’s Day and thrilled that the governor has deemed it legal for her to do delivery and curbside sales.

Every day is an adventure to my Mom and Dad. And this week is no exception. Other folks in her age group might have considered sitting this important floral holiday out. They may feel at risk.

Not Betty. She has signs on her door with her phone number, she has a plan for masks and gloves for the three of us who will help in the shop, and she’s keeping the crowds under control. This is someone who will live their life to the fullest until the moment their life is over. I can no more boss her into living quietly than the man in the moon. And I wouldn’t want to.

Not that there are ever huge crowds, but in the past, especially on Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, we’ve had up to six or eight folks in the store choosing their flowers. Not now. She has instead starting posting photos on her Facebook page and telling folks they need to trust her to create something special.

My mom knows flowers. But more than that, she knows her community. She was the first Citizen of the Year in Logan, sometime back in the 80s. She lives in the county where she was born and her entire life has been devoted to taking care of people in Quay County. In the past month, she’s done the flowers for at least four funerals, delivering casket covers and standing pieces to the funeral home when it’s deserted. Charles Dunn at the funeral home in Tucumcari tells her he’ll leave the door open and she shows up when she knows it’s safe. She and my Dad then drive to the cemetery on the day appointed for burial and they stand a safe distance away, showing their respect for both the deceased and the family.

I’m obviously proud to call them mine. It is a gift to know people of such integrity, grit and care. It’s amazing to get to say they’re your parents.

Not everyone in Logan or Quay County agrees about COVID-19. Some folks there feel this is some sort of conspiracy or hoax. Rather than arguing, Betty goes about her business valuing everyone. She especially values their right to a little cheer and care in their lives and that’s what she provides, with my 87 (almost 88) year-old Dad driving the van to do the delivering.

I’ll head to Logan on Wednesday to help her get organized and start building bouquets to honor local moms. But I’ll be the helper. She’ll be spearheading the drive to create beauty in the midst of this crazy time.

If you have a Mom in Quay County and want flowers for her, call Betty Terry at 575-487-2420 to order. Here’s a link to her Facebook page. If your mom lives elsewhere, be sure to find a local florist who’s probably a small business owner in New Mexico. In fact, you can call my Mom to get the name of someone in Roswell or Deming or Zuni who can help you. Try to avoid ordering flowers on the internet from a large supplier. As my Mom can attest, those flowers are not prepared with care and they don’t last as long.

And during this time, we all want to support local small businesses. I’m suggesting you start with Mom!