to do all the things his father had always wanted to do and see all the things his father had dreamed of. First he drove about the United States, slowly, appreciatively, seeing his own country. This wasn't one of the mad vacation tours in which you attempt to see the West in two or three weeks, but a slow process in which Les would stop off and spend a few days or a few weeks, if the locality called for it. He spent two weeks on the rim of the Grand Canyon assimilating in all its grandeur these things his father had only dreamed of, seen only in photographs. After the United States, he dropped down into Mexico and took up residence in one of the cheaper, smaller towns, located not far from the pyramids. And here he found that he was rapidly running out of money. Aside from his photo engraving experience Les had little background. Oh, yes, except for one thing. He was a camera crank, specializing in color photography. In his spare time, he'd always messed around with cameras. So now he put his hobby to work. Few tourists—although they all seem to carry cameras—can take really competent photos, especially the more delicate color shots. Les picked out the more prosperous looking ones who came to his town and approached them with samples of his work. He'd pose them with Mexican backgrounds, possibly even the pyramids themselves, and take shots that they could never have accomplished themselves. And he charged sky-high rates. This he did whenever he felt himself running short of cash. It was easy, and for him, pleasurable work, with little time involved and he was able to continue living the life he wanted to live. The life his father before him had so deeply desired, but never quite got around to realizing. At this writing, Les is in Mexico City, but I understand that he is thinking of going to Europe. He wants to see Europe as he already has his own country and Mexico and figures he can do his color photography in Europe as profitably as he has been doing in Mexico. One thing he knows definitely. He is not going back to the treadmill of New York which killed his father before life's dreams were ever experienced. Next: Chapter 4 - Retiring on a Small Income
|
Last Updated: