1) The author saw some colorful salt and pepper shaker cows and impulsively bought them despite usually having simple tastes. 2) They reflect on how they used to restrain themselves due to peer pressure but are now in their 50s and don't care what others think. 3) The cows don't have a practical purpose but make the author laugh, and they've learned to indulge small pleasures instead of worrying about others' opinions.