When I was a kid growing up in the suburbs of Detroit my mom loved going to estate sales and she often brought me with her.

She'd give me a quarter to spend on books and board games -- and a quarter bought me a lot back in the 1960s.

Then she'd go through the house looking for treasure. She wasn't a collector but she loved a good piece of furniture or a beautiful oriental rug.

Our house was full of gorgeous oriental rugs she'd picked up for a song.