D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
September 2010
Letters
Page: 2Wrong Turn
As a resident of Rodeo, NM, I can't help but reply to M. John Fayhee about his article referring to car-camping in our beautiful desert and wilderness ("Car-Camping in the Combat Zone," July). As you know, the population here is spread all over the place. What would we do without the Rodeo Café and the café in Animas? Both of these cafés have excellent food and I think you would stand alone if there was a survey taken. I have never heard a word against the food at either place. The owners/operators of both cafés are terrific people and are well liked. Great cooks at both cafés. We are so fortunate to have a place to enjoy a good meal as we talk to old neighbors and meet new ones. I've had the "barbeque" you talk about and can't go along with your comments about it, nor do I think anyone else would, either.
That "Crazed Desert Rat Society" table that you mentioned is made up of residents who have knowledge of this historic area and could probably each write their own book. Across America, in small towns, you will always find "the table," and I would never walk into the Rodeo Café and even attempt to sit at that table, as these residents have earned their chair. We learn from them and truly respect them in a way that maybe you would never understand. In fact, one resident has done just that — written a book entitled The Other Rodeo, and it is filled with area history from days gone by.
I have pictured you sitting at your table "trying to eat that barbeque" and as you said, your eyes roaming around the room taking everything in. It seems strange to me that as a new person passing through town, you did not join in the conversation somewhere along the way, as I know you would have been welcomed to do so. It happens all of the time.
Something that hit me pretty hard was your opinion of our Border Patrol. You mentioned the rancher who was shot and killed, along with his beloved dog. Don't you think he would have loved to have seen a green/white Border Patrol truck or four-wheeler coming over the hill? Unfortunately, we do not have enough of them and they simply can't cover this vast area. So many are quite young and we have a deep respect for them as there are days they are alone in their duty.
How excited you were to see boot prints and think that maybe you were actually going to meet up with a real, live illegal. And there you were, all by yourself and so excited. And there I was all by myself and excited, too, a few weeks ago when I was alone in my house and someone was trying to break down the door. That excitement is called "terror." And, only one set of boot prints. Perhaps only one illegal. Perhaps NOT an illegal at all. Maybe it was best you didn't meet up with that set of boot prints.
I think it would interest all of us to know how you handled the fire you started — the one that was the size of a medium house. You had been told that if you ever wanted to see the Border Patrol, start a fire. You have got to be kidding. We have lost over 10,000 acres of wilderness due to fires and you started a fire of that size on purpose? At one time around here there were over 500 firefighters staying in tiny one-man tents and exhausted from the battle. How in the world did you put that fire out?
I am not a writer and I am in no way trying to be ignorant in my writing. I'm not even very educated. However, I know good people when I meet them and this part of the Southwest has some of the best people I've ever met, anywhere! I think by quickly moving through our cafés and thinking of what you would like to write, you missed out on a lot. I know you write with humor, but I failed to enjoy it in your article.
Shawnee Dale
Rodeo
Author M. John Fayhee replies: Well, at least we agree on the "beautiful desert and wilderness" part.
DE Down East
After having lived in Silver City for some time and depending on Desert Exposure for thorough information, we now rely on the online version (www.desertexposure.com) for keeping up with Southwest New Mexico.
Marjorie Lilly has done a GREAT job of keeping us informed of the goings on in Palomas. This I especially appreciate! The Pink Store was our destination MANY times. Also while there side trips for dental, drugs (legal) and eyeglasses were made. We enjoyed our trips across the border.
Thanks for publishing a informative, readable "paper"!
Bob Harlow
Camden, Maine
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