The Salt and Pepper Collection...

For those who thought they were getting ready to read a review of Salt n' Pepa's Greatest Hits, this ain't that. If you were expecting a line by line dissection of 'Push It' you'll be disappointed. If you believed we'd discuss the continued relevance of 'I'll take Your Man,' it's not happening (even though that would be interesting). Maybe another time. 

      This is about heirlooms and legacies, or in this case, a salt and pepper shaker collection which is something most folks will either love or won't understand. Lol. There is no middle ground.

       My paternal grandmother, Lee Ellen Hayes, was a memorable woman, no matter what else she wasn't. She wasn't a typical grandmother, meaning she wasn't warm or cuddly. She was atypical in a lot of ways, and she was unforgettable. One of her quirks was that she collected salt and pepper shakers from her travels. Not plain ass black and white shakers, but quirky, sometimes comical ones. There was (is) a pair featuring an old man and an old woman. The woman is pregnant and on her stomach the writing says "You and your once for old time's sake!" Funny, right?

      When she passed into Eternity, her salt and pepper shakers were bequeathed to my Mama. A few Christmases later, my mother wanted to share my grandmother's legacy with the family, so she gifted every family member there with three or more sets of these quirky salt and pepper shakers. And that's how it started...

      My mother gave me four sets, which both pleased me and inspired me. I was struck with the idea to keep her collection going, with the thought that it would be a legacy, heirlooms for my children and grandchildren. This was quite far-sighted for someone who at the time didn't have a clue as to what the future held.

     Now anyone who knows me is aware that traveling is a passion and addiction for me. My trips have been sometimes off the beaten path, leading me to adventures most folks will never get to experience. My trips are always accentuated by my hunt for quirky salt and pepper shakers to add to what I refer as 'The Hayes Collection.'

      Friends know of my collection and when they travel, they bring me back souvenirs which are very different salt and pepper shakers. Two crabs dancing, seahorses kissing, a golfer kissing his golf bag, Mickey and Minnie, and a host of others. I appreciate them, and I get a thrill of anticipation whenever a friend says "I brought you back something." 

     There are people who collect shot glasses, ashtrays, refrigerator magnets, and even bongs (yes, bongs!) from all over the world. The cool thing is that in order to collect mementos, one has to travel. A win-win situation.

      To sum it up, my collection right now consists of over one hundred pairs of quirky salt and pepper shakers from all over the world. When I pass into Eternity, there is no telling how much the collection will have grown. I can see my kids telling my grandkids about their atypical grandfather and HIS atypical grandmother Lee Ellen. In this manner, one of the beliefs that I hold dear will be proven; it IS possible to live forever, as long as they still speak your name...

The picture is of two lobsters in a pot, dressed in chef's aprons, a witch kissing her black cat (I bought those at the Salem Witch Museum), and two turtles "frolicking." Lol.