Time Out With The Spice Cabinet

By: Anessa Cohen

This week, I watched a British comedian doing a stand-up routine that was priceless. Unfortunately, I don’t remember his name (you’d think that since I loved his routine, I would remember him) but oh well, at least I’ll never forget his story.

From his routine he segued into what was happening inside his spice cabinet in his kitchen. As he described it, all the spices stood shoulder to shoulder in a long row. Some were so neglected they faced backwards. The turmeric complained that nobody appreciated him anymore and he regularly needed to dust off his cap from all the dust that collected on his lid. The paprika said, “What should I say? I used to be a star but now no one hardly opens my lid. The cinnamon piped in: “Well, what are you complaining about? No one bothers to touch me except during the holidays.”

And everyone looked with envy at the salt and pepper.

“Have you noticed?” one of the spices said. “Those two don’t even live in the cupboard. They sit on the table all day like they own the place!”

“Right,” replied the nutmeg. “They only take us out once a month for a special recipe, then throw us right back into the cabinet and shut the door. Those two get invited to every single meal!”

And the salt and pepper?

They didn’t even look in the cupboard’s direction. They just stood there on the table like two old snobs, with their noses in the air as if no dish in the world could exist without them.

I laughed at the very idea.

Turns out that even in the spice cupboard, there’s jealousy, politics, and power struggles.

I guess that’s just the way of the world.

And maybe that’s why I sometimes prefer listening to comedians instead of the news.

Because if all I hear about every day are endless fights, wars, politics, and inflation on the nightly news, I would much prefer spending some much-needed downtime listening to the griping and complaining inside a spice cabinet, where there is more logic than in news! 

Anessa Cohen is a NYS Licensed Real Estate Broker with over 20 years of experience (Anessa V Cohen Realty) providing top quality residential, management & commercial real estate services. She can be reached at 516-569-5007. Readers are encouraged to send any questions by email to [email protected].