I like small towns like Rodeo, New Mexico

On a recent trip to the Arizona border, I stopped by the tiny town of Rodeo, New Mexico. Founded at the turn of the 20th century, the town is as open and as dusty as its name implies.

The kind of town where you see real tumbleweeds lazily making their way across the unpaved main street. The right side of the road is mostly empty. The left side has the necessary essentials for civilization, a corner store/restaurant, and a bar.

The bar, of course, is the most happening place in town. Passerbys slow down to see a desert place that feels frozen in time. Growing up in Douglas, Arizona, I used to pass through Rodeo as a kid during road trips.

For many years, an empty car cop greeted travelers at one of the two town entrances. A dummy sat inside the retired Crown Victoria. Slumped to one side, he looked out the dirt-speckled windshield and with one look; fast-moving cars would come to nearly a stop.

You see, this is the kind of place where moving slow is still in style. Sitting on the front porch and waving at curious motorists is still a thing to do. Getting together at the tavern to talk about the day’s happenings, even if there weren’t any, is a…