The Reflexive: Southwest Road Trip

Highway 137, Texas

Since returning from my year long European adventure in the beginning of November 2025, it seems all I had been doing is working, which is good. I've got to pay those bills and save for my next European adventure When I saw a break in my work schedule at the end of February, I made a plan to rent a car and visit my brother and his family in Goodyear, Arizona and go on a road trip.

Yours Truly in the Arizona Sunset

It’s over one thousand miles to Goodyear from Austin. There was a time several years ago that I made that trip in one day. That is something that I wouldn’t even consider today. It's so boring and tiring But the trip isn’t just about seeing my brother, sister-in-law and my niece and nephew, whom I haven’t seen in 4 years. The trip was also about seeing some sights along the way. I love traveling, seeing sights and taking photos. The only thing I had to decide was which routes I would take and where I should spend the night. Traveling on the interstate highways in The US is rather boring. It might end up being a quicker way to arrive at your destination but you’re not seeing any of the vibrancy that some of the US and state highways offer along the way. As far as where to go, several months ago my friend posted a photo of a diner that seemed to be stuck in time. She raved about how cool the place was and that was enough for me. The Diner was El Camino and it was in Socorro, New Mexico. It was stuck in time. I had breakfast there. If it weren’t for the credit card payment terminal near the cash register, you would think it was 1976 instead of 2026. Another place I planned my trip around, on the way back from Goodyear, was Intermission book store in Brownwood, Texas. I saw a short video about it on YouTube. When I got there the woman gave me the history of the building, such as its time as a movie theatre(hence the name Intermission). It is a really lovely Independent bookstore. I ended up buying Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I have never read anything by Hugo but have been meaning to for some time, especially since I am a Francophile.

El Camino in Socorro, NM

Mid Century Magic at El Camino

Some of the other cities I stopped at were Llano, Texas and Alamogordo, New Mexico as well as stopping in many others just to take a quick photo of something cool and interesting. Some of the drives were breathtaking, especially US Routes 380 and 60 that go through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Beautiful mountains and wide open skies. Magnificent sunsets and charming old towns. Plus my walk in the early morning sun in Socorro was magnificent. This is what I signed up for. However I did have some negative experiences, one of which is my lack of patience when I am driving.

Several times I was frustrated at other drivers. In one instance, I caught myself and realized how unrealistic an expectation that the speed I want to travel is never to be impeded is. You see a lot of these highways are just two lanes with one lane going east and the other going west. So at times a slower driver will keep the faster drivers behind them. Sometimes it’s possible to pass if there aren’t any cars coming in the other direction. At other times, every 5 miles or so, one direction of the highway will open up to 2 lanes for the express purpose of those cars that want to go faster can pass the slower ones. That was where I was at, about 6 cars behind the slow one. Then the road opened up and I didn’t feel like the cars weren't going fast enough to pass the slow car because the passing lane will end in a mile. And why was that lead car going slow anyway? Things in life can and will frustrate you. That I understand but this particular frustration of slow drivers or things not happening the way I want them too seems really insignificant and what's more, uncontrollable. I should be past this type of crap. Maybe that thought is unrealistic. Anyway when you are in a state of frustration or annoyance your mind and outlook are a bit frantic. It’s unpleasant and I don't want to waste time feeling frantic with things as silly as this. After all, the whole point of this road trip was to take it slow. Why do I feel the need to rush? Why did I react they way I did? I guess I have to do some more digging. Despite those little annoyances and frustrations I did see a lot of beauty whether it was a big open blue sky or a weathered, rundown shack in a little town. Plus I got to see my brother and his family. I love doting on my niece Ava as well, who since I last saw her has become quite the singer. and performer. She refers to herself, at 13 years old, as a musical theater nerd. She has the lead as Aerial in her school's production of The Little Mermaid later this year. Her favorite singer is Barbra Streisand. I told her that that was my mother's, her grandmother’s, favorite singer. I had a great time in Goodyear. I’m just glad I wasn’t there in the summer.

Lamesa, TX

The Rustler by by Robert Summers-Artesia, NM

White Sands Theatre-Alamogordo, NM

The most fun thing for me was capturing all these sights with my camera. I never go anywhere with out it. You can check out some more of the photos here.