Salt and Pepper Shakers

I used to collect salt and pepper shakers.  While I haven't acquired any new sets in many years, I'm pretty sure the entire collection still rests somewhere in my parents' attic. 

My parents were (and still are) big into antiquing.  I remember taking long car trips to visit my grandparents once a year, taking the back roads and stopping at antique shops along the way.  We'd listen to "Buddy Songs," a cassette tape of songs from Disney movies the entire ride; my brother would insist on playing the "Alphabet Game," a competition to be the first to work one's way through the alphabet by identifying words on road signs that start with the appropriate letter (license plates don't count, fyi); and I would invariably get car sick, usually about 1.5 hours into an eight hour trip.

Whenever we would stop at one of these antique shops, I'd get my hopes up.  I sought the next addition to my collection, a reward for surviving the car trip and winning the alphabet game.  I'd search for the most unique salt and pepper shakers I could find.  Animal sets were my favorite; I probably owned six sets of shakers featuring cats and dogs, and I even had more obscure animals like sheep, chickens, squirrels, and unicorns (if these count as animals).  I had a set of shakers of a farmer and his cow; one of Mr. and Mrs. Clause; one featuring the Pillsbury Doughboy; and a wooden set I believe to be from Morocco.

I was thinking about my collection today, as I was taking the big Morton Salt container from my cupboard, pouring a small portion into my palm, and sprinkling it on my food.  How do I not have a set of salt and pepper shakers in my current apartment?  As sad as it may seem, I have not had a set of shakers in my possession for the past eight years, ever since I moved out of my childhood home.  It dawned on me that perhaps I should acquire one more set for my current home, or visit my parents' attic to pick out the set that will match most nicely with my red kitchen.  It would be so gratifying to stylishly sprinkle these condiments on my food.  Don't get me wrong; the Morton Salt girl is cute.  But, she's no match for the set of bright red cardinals I have hidden somewhere in the depths of my parents' attic.