I inherited over 1000 salt and pepper shakers from my grandmother. I kept my favorites and sold the rest, and it taught me a lesson in letting go.

Courtesy of Trace Salzbrenner

When I was a kid, my grandma loved to tell me about her collection of salt and pepper shakers. She would pull her favorites down from custom-built shelves she had installed in her home — she always wanted to have her assembly on display — and would tell me their history. She started collecting when she inherited her own grandmother's collection. At that time, there were only around 100 pairs.