When we got back to Dallas, I was having some second thoughts about our decision to disregard the doctor’s concerns about traveling so soon.
I’m not sure if it was the flight or the fact that Lou had only just had his catheter removed, but something was causing Lou to bleed. A lot. So we kept telling ourselves that if he took it easy, things would correct, and the prostate would properly heal.
It was just a matter of time.
So our days were spent resting and taking it slow. It was so much nicer to be at Dona’s house — she had movie channels, books to read, and, she and Dave prepared amazing meals nearly every night. Lou and I felt welcome and loved, and I could finally let my guard down a little. Also, it was so much easier for Lou to heal with the constant emotional support his sister gave him. Lou loves his sister the way I love mine… She’s pretty awesome.
Lou’s outlook was so much better, too, which helped a lot. Being out of that crummy dorm room made an enormous difference. And while Lou didn’t have the same opportunities to “stimulate young minds” at the campus coffee shop anymore, we did come up with short little outings every day that Lou managed to turn into “important human exchanges” as well.
One such outing was going to Walgreens.
When everything first happened, Lou never wanted to go into the store with me to get his dude diapers. But by this time, Lou was carrying his own donut out in the open, and spending time in the adult diaper aisle without any shame. I have a very vivid memory of a Walgreens moment that made my heart melt.
Lou and I split up so I could get some shampoo and deodorant, while Lou got another pack of “dude dipes” (as we started calling them). After I got my items, I could hear Lou’s voice; he was laughing. So I walked over a few aisles, and there was Lou and this elderly woman, standing in the middle of the incontinence aisle.
I heard Lou say, “Oh girl. We made that mistake once, too. You’ve gotta get the name brand — it’s worth every penny.”
The old lady was nodding her head slowly as if her story of regret was something she knew only a fellow sufferer could fully understand.
Then, after we made our purchases, the check out clerk asked us if we needed a bag for the dude dipes.
Lou quickly said, “No — I got this. But thank you.”
Then, Lou hoisted the 30-pack of Depends up onto his shoulder like an 80’s ghetto blaster. He strutted out of the Walgreens like he was Radio Raheem from Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. It was kind of awesome! And the whole scene made me tear up a little bit when I realized how far we’d come…
