The Watkins Man

My family has used Watkins Products since I was a child. I remember Mama always kept a list ready for The Watkins Man. That was just about the most important list in the house and was almost holy.

I grew up out in the country where life was simple, people respected each other, and there was always help and friendship just down the road a ways. We had a pretty good patch of land that my Daddy farmed, back when farmers could make a good living from the ground. But we didn't often see many folks unless we went to town, usually on Sundays to go to Church.

The Watkins Man always came to see us on the 3rd Friday of every month. That date was written on the calendar as far back as I can remember. And that day was a special one because he always stayed for supper and visited with Daddy on the porch while Mama cooked. I was the oldest so I always got to sit right next to The Watkins Man at the table and thumbed my nose at my too younger siblings.

After supper we would all sit around the living room while The Watkins Man laid out his wares like his tonics, salves, and vanilla so Mama could pick out all the things she needed, and he would share new things with us. Oh the wonderful smells! He always seemed to have exactly what we needed, and I always wondered as a child how he knew just what to bring!

The first thing Mama would do after The Watkins Man left was to brew up some wonderful Cocoa from the dry Cocoa that he left. She'd stir in some sugar, and a little water while heating it on the stove, then add milk right at the last. It was a cup of heaven to a sleepy little girl.

Even today, any time I smell Watkins Pure Cocoa it takes me back to my childhood, and memories of The Watkins Man.

Watkins Associate ID 365116