Final answer:
Mr. Bittering likens himself to a salt crystal to express his sense of alienation and the feeling of being unique or out of place in his environment, as salt is to food and the landscape.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mr. Bittering compares himself to a salt crystal to symbolize his feelings of being out of place or not fitting in. Salt crystals, especially in the great Salt Lake, are distinctive, isolated, and potentially fragile within their environment. In the same way that salt stands out and has a particular role in flavoring and preserving food, Mr. Bittering feels he stands out in his surroundings and perhaps has a unique role he is struggling to understand or accept. The comparison likely draws attention to his sense of alienation or the feeling of being a small part of a much larger picture, similar to a single salt crystal in an immense landscape.