Desert Exposure

Saying Goodbye

Every now and then one of my readers will ask about my mother. The reason I don’t write about her more often is because my beautiful wife can always tell when I’ve been crying. When I … more

By Jim and Henry Duchene | 9/28/21

George Square, Glasgow

Editors Note: Silver City writer Vivian Savitt has been part of the Desert Exposure team for many years. She has had regular pieces appearing in the paper including the Southwest Gardner and then … more

By Vivian Savitt | 9/28/21

The Search for Identity

I'm sitting here trying to type on a big round exercise ball. I read somewhere that sitting on a ball rather than a chair is good for your back. It is supposed to keep your back exercised as you … more

By Susan Golightly | 9/28/21

Olympic Thoughts

Since the beginning of my long journey with horses, I’ve looked forward to the equestrian events in the summer Olympics. The beauty and athleticism of the horses and the skills of the riders … more

Scott Thomson | 9/28/21

Sagittarius, the Archer

Above our southern horizon, an archer stands ready to fire his arrow westward toward the “Heart of The Scorpion”, the star Antares, in Scorpius, the Scorpion. But this archer is not a … more

By Bert Stevens | 9/28/21

Glenwood - Catwalk and so much more

When you’ve lived in the desert for a while, your relationship to rain changes. Coming from Germany, I always dreaded rain as a kid. Not able to go outside or putting on all sorts of … more

By Gabriele Teich | 9/28/21

20 years later, world changed but heartache stays

Twenty years ago, on a Tuesday, I was getting my boys ready for school, shaking them out of their sleep and gently encouraging their eyes to open when from the other room I heard, “Elva, get in here quick!” more

By Elva K. Österreich | 9/9/21

Many Afghans starting their new lives in Southern NM

Thousands of Afghan refugees whisked to safety during the massive evacuation that concluded this week experienced their first taste of freedom here in Dona Ana County. more

By Walt Rubel | 9/2/21

LGBTTTQQIAAPNBGF Say what?

First, there was GLB, which was changed to LGB in order to not continue the sexism that constantly puts women second. Then under some protests and debates, the “T” was added. The … more

By Susan Golightly | 9/1/21

Ara, the Altar

Never getting more than its northern half over our southern horizon, the small constellation Ara, the Altar, is 63rd in size out of the 88 constellations. Ara can be found directly beneath the tail … more

By Bert Stevens | 9/1/21

So you want to be part of the Green Rush in NM?

If you have been paying attention to the news, you must know by now that in April 2021, Gov. Lujan Grisham signed a bill legalizing recreational cannabis in New Mexico, effective April 1, 2022. Many think that it is already in effect and legal. It is not! It is evolving, as we speak. more

Hilda Luz Chavez | 8/20/21

August marks awful anniversary

Dear Editor: August brings with it two awful anniversaries. The first is on the 6th, the 76th anniversary of the atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima, Japan, by the United States. Three days later, … more

Tom Vaughn | 8/4/21

Hercules, the Son of Zeus

A little east of overhead is a star of television and movies. He has been in the sky since ancient times, with this constellation appearing in Claudius Ptolemy’s astronomical treatise, the … more

By Bert Stevens | 8/4/21

Serpens, the Serpent

We in the desert southwest are used to snakes, but our July sky has an actual serpent. Serpens, The Serpent is divided into two unconnected parts, separated by the constellation Ophiuchus. Serpens … more

By Bert Stevens | 7/1/21

Chloride Day Trip

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, ghost towns are fun. We headed out to Chloride, a two-hour-plus drive from Las Cruces on a fine spring day without any wind in the forecast. As soon as we … more

By Gabriele Teich | 7/1/21

A Tale of Two Kitties

Every Saturday I go to Las Fuentes restaurant and buy my father the family pack of red cheese enchiladas, with sides of rice and beans. My father is one enchilada-eating kind of guy. If I’m … more

By Jim and Henry Duchene | 7/1/21

Quilts Are Wild Things

This story begins many years ago, when my best friend forever, Yolanda, and I were in grad school. She was a single mom with two young children whom she would bring to seminars. Olivia would house … more

By Mia Kalish | 6/27/21

Pandemic in an Enchanted Land

My grandfather, Ignacy Golub, was a great storyteller. He loved to talk about events in context, big events, the war in Eastern Europe, the destruction caused by Stalin, his work helping others … more

By Mia Kalish | 6/2/21

Hydra, the Water Snake

A long, jagged, region ranging across our southern sky represents the water snake, Hydra. This constellation snakes southeastward from a small circlet of stars two-thirds of the way up in the … more

By Bert Stevens | 5/1/21

DEX Propels Career in Writing

I’ve written for a long time, but never had the time, courage, or inclination to do a lot of writing until I happened to be in Washington DC on 9/11. At that time, I saw the plane that … more

By Jeff Berg | 5/1/21