Roswell, NM (Pop. 47,109)

It felt good sleeping in cool temperatures. We almost felt spoiled, but that feeling quickly faded. This morning, I took some of our belongings outside and was surprised by how cool the air felt. However, we knew the temperatures would climb back into the 90s again, so we enjoyed the coolness while we could.

We were headed to Roswell, NM, just to say we'd been there. Roswell is only about 70 miles north of Carlsbad. We had plenty of time, so we thought it would be fun to check the place out. The trip was about 200 miles in total, and most of it was, unfortunately, rather uninspiring. The area is dry and hot, with little greenery to be found in the vast fields. Instead of lush vegetation, we saw many oil pumps busy extracting black gold. The fields were littered with electric poles and pumps, creating a pretty depressing scene. As we crossed into New Mexico, we finally saw some green fields. There was less oil equipment, and in its place, irrigation systems dotted the landscape.

We arrived in Roswell around 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time and found a coffee shop where we could plan our next steps. The town was brimming with all things "alien." Dunkin’ and McDonald's both had alien-themed displays in their establishments. We walked down the main street, checking out the downtown area, and stumbled upon a UFO museum. It was only $5 each, so we figured it was worth a visit. The most intriguing part was the extensive displays about the July 4, 1947, "Roswell Incident." You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roswell_incident. There was definitely some sort of incident, followed by a quick government cover-up. Was it an alien invasion or a secret military operation? That’s the million-dollar question. I’ll let you decide for yourself.

After the museum, we headed back to the PLUM and took short naps before venturing out again. We noticed an art center with glowing reviews and decided to visit. I drove over, only to discover it was temporarily closed. Dana chose to walk the six blocks anyway, so I parked and waited for her. She certainly took her time! After about half an hour, she returned, explaining that she had stopped by a "Food Not Bombs" table where they were giving out food to anyone who needed it—no questions asked. She spent some time talking with the director and found the conversation fascinating.

We decided to drive back to the small park where they were distributing food under one of the few shade trees in the city. Dana introduced me to Jocelyn, the director. We chatted for a while, and I asked Jocelyn if she would be open to a recorded conversation. She immediately agreed. After the food distribution was finished, I set up my equipment, and the conversation began. What a fascinating story, and what amazing people! Jocelyn and her partner both came from very difficult childhoods, and they’re doing incredible work supporting vulnerable individuals. Dana and I were both blown away by our time with them. Their story is truly one worth hearing and should be published in about two weeks.

Now, after our time at the park, we’re settling in for the evening, feeling that our trip to Roswell was well worth the drive. We came expecting to see aliens, but instead, we found amazing humans.

“Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” —Charles GlassmanLæs mere