Bob

My Mother, God Bless her, withered away in the winter of 1980 and two days before Christmas, succumbed to lung cancer. There was such a noticeable difference between her final emaciated sick condition as compared to her fun-loving and free-spirited self in the years before her illness.
###I guess some people would call her a contest fanatic, always seeking but never achieving that elusive prize. She would write television commercial jingles in the late 40’s; enter every cereal box contest she could find in the 50’s; and send in photos for most original photograph in the 60’s. But all her efforts went unanswered.
###In early 1970, she learned of a contest sponsored by the giant cigarette manufacturer, Philip Morris. On each pack of Marlboro cigarettes was printed a coupon which could be redeemed for merchandize. Now prior to this time, my Mother would never think about smoking, but this was an opportunity to win a prize, so it became a challenge in her life; a contest to attain that triumphal prize of victory.
###She started smoking slowly at first, keeping it secret from my father and her children; which usually meant only during socials with the girls on the block or during the drive to and return from work. Gradually she built up to a pack-a-day. I suspect my Father caught on to her secret very early on, but graciously allowed her to maintain her clandestine mission. We kids never really realized what was going on.
###By mid-December 1979, Mother had collected 2,176 coupons and decided it was time to send them in. She neatly wrapped them in stacks of 100 each bound by a rubber band and placed them in a small box. My Mother carried the box to the Post Office, made sure it was insured for the maximum amount and mailed it off to the Philip Morris Headquarters in New York City.
###After about four weeks a large box was delivered to the front steps of our home. Mother immediately took the box inside and wasted no time in opening it. Inside was a red and white water jug with the Marlboro logo emblazoned on the top portion. A specification sheet accompanied the water jug and identified it as a “5 ¼-inch diameter x 10 ½-inch high, 64 ounce or ½ gallon capacity Coleman water jug manufactured with high density polyethylene insulated material, with a wide mouth screw on lid, a positive open/close drink spout and easy grip molded handle. In bold letters, the specification sheet added, “This Container is Designed for Cold Beverage Use Only.”
###My Mother was like a teenager invited to her first prom. She was so thrilled; she immediately called her sister in Santa Fe and her brother in Los Angeles to announce her fabulous good fortune. She always carried it softly but securely in her arms as if she was holding a new-born baby.
###The Marlboro water jug was never once used but remained on her bed-side table until she died in December of the same year.
###After the funeral, I spoke with my Dad and Mother’s other close relatives and all agreed to my request.
###To this day, the Coleman 64-ounce red and white water jug adorned with the Marlboro logo sits on top of my fire mantle containing my Mother’s cremated ashes. It rests there not to deplore the cause of her death but to celebrate the joy and happiness it brought to my Mother so very long ago.