J.R. Watkins -- an unplanned nostalgic gift

A few Saturdays ago, Rob and I were at our local grocery store (the larger, all-inclusive, sells clothes and housewares too kind of place) looking for some ideas for Mother's Day gifts for his mom and grandmother who we would be seeing at dinner the next day. (Yes, Angie, I just confessed that we waited until the last minute to find a gift for you. As if it weren't abundantly obvious already!) -- We were in the soaps and lotions aisle when I saw some hand soaps and lotions that I liked the look of. They had an attractive vintage label, and even seemed legitimately authentic by using the word "apothecary" and the tag "since 1868". Then there was the clincher; the word "NATURAL". I didn't know much about this brand, but I was sold. The buy-one-get-one-half-off coupons attached to the shelves were just a bonus at that point. SO we picked up two each of the lavender hand soap and body cream, wrapped them in cute gift bags when we got home, and that was that.

Rob's mom and grandma both seemed to enjoy the gifts, and both said how much they love the lavender scent (which is why we chose that one). Success.

I didn't think anything more of the gifts we had given them until we received the thank-you note from Rob's grandma who is always so consistent about sending detailed, heartfelt thank you's. This note was no different, and started out much like the others we've received in the past, but when she started talking about the lotion and soap we gave her, a smile came to my face and I was suddenly surprised by what I was reading.

It says:

"What a nostalgic ride the J.R. Watkins products are. I can actually remember the Watkins man coming to see if we needed any of his products. I think my mother used to buy from him. But especially my grandparents on a farm in Mesa depended on him for so many things--regularly. I'll use the soap and lotion with delight and nostalgia."

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Rob's great grandmother and great-great-grandparents both used, and even relied on these products. What a fun thought to think of The Watkins Man going door to door, even farm to farm, seeing which products his customers needed more of. Knowing that the J.R. Watkins brand truly has been around, used, and loved "since 1868" made me like the products even more.

Intrigued by Rob's grandmother's note, I looked up J.R. Watkins online and found they make much more than just soaps and lotions. In addition to all kinds of natural personal care items, they also sell natural cleaners, dish soaps and laundry detergents; natural remedies for pain relief, cough & cold, sun care, and dietary supplements; and even natural gourmet flavor extracts, seasonings, sauces and oils.

Something about it makes me want to buy every product they sell! What can I say, I'm a sucker for authentic natural products, and when you throw in the nostalgia aspect of this particular brand, there's no turning back. J.R. must be doing something right, because right along side Rob's mother's mother's mother's mother, I am now a believer.