"Do you think we use much pepper in this house?"

This from the wife, brandishing a square spice can in her hand.

Youngest son just finished cooking up scrambled eggs for himself (and the heelers). Used up all the black pepper in the tin shaker that sits on top of the stove.

So the wife went into the pantry for the refill she knew she would find there.

First she shows me the label. With the big red 'S' of the supermarket chain that isn't even here anymore, the store that closed down after the last energy boom.

Then she reads the stamp on the bottom of the can.

SELL BEFORE

April 08

(wait for it...)

1984.