When I was about 11 or 12 I started collecting cigarette coupons. Benson and Hedges coupons. You could trade them for prizes out of a catalog, just like trading stamps.

There were two or three brands that fell under the B&H brand so they all had a little coupon attached to the package, beneath the cellophane cover. Extra rewards came when you bought a carton.

Back in the 60s just about every adult that I was around smoked. Socks and Lois Jackson were still married at that time and I spent a lot of time over there with them. Lois is the one that turned me on to the B&H coupons. She smoked the menthol version I believe. Socks smoked Winston’s so he didn’t contribute, but that woman had a big box of the coupons she had saved. She could tell she wasn’t going to accumulate enough to ever get anything worthwhile. She suggested that if she gave me those I could get others to save them for me and then I could get some things out of the catalog.

I started hitting up everyone I came in contact with, even encouraging some people to change brands, so I could get more rewards.

My folks had a big circle of friends and then we also had a large extended family. I even had people in other states saving them and mailing to me. They seemed to be coming from every direction.

I thought it was only fair that I bought something for Lois. She was the one that got it all started. But I also needed to get my mother something. She had contributed lots of coupons and helped me keep it all organized.

I waited until I had enough to buy them both quilted bedspreads. I didn’t want to chance hurting either ones feelings or make the other jealous, so I bought them both just alike.

I thought they were just about the prettiest things I’d ever seen. They were snow white in color, with about a one foot outside border of the reddest red you have ever seen. Right up in the middle was a blue circle, about 3’ in diameter, with a big eagle inside that circle.

This isn’t exactly the bedspread, but it will give you an idea of what I’m talking about.

Decor in Smithwick homes weren’t what they are today. But thinking back, I’m not sure what that was suppose to coordinate with. I think my sense of style and fashion was still developing at that age.

Both ladies put them on their beds and used them for a long time, as I remember it.