Seeking Beauty on Roads Less Traveled

"Look, here's an old map of the NYC subway system, " I say as I pick up a framed map that is leaning against a chained linked fence in a massive football field size parking lot in California. I did not expect to see this 3,000 miles from home. There's a sign that reads "Todo para $1.00...Everything for a dollar" but of course, that does not apply to the map. I still do not know how much that map would have been. I could not tell if it was an original or a print made last week in China. And I have a $2.00 rule. I am not paying more than $2.00 for anything today. "Next time, you have to dress grungier, Estelle. You look like you can pay more than a dollar." Come on, I did not don a ballgown and tiara for this outing; wearing blue jeans (that's as dressed-down as I get), a turtleneck sweater and a fleecy over- the- turtleneck sweater...did not even bring a designer purse. I tried to dress down. I really did. My friend Dario is a devotee of this sw