The doctor’s office was crowded when Sam arrived for his appointment. Scowling patients who looked as if they had been there for a long time occupied most of the seats in the waiting room. Sam prepared himself for a long wait.
The receptionist was new and didn’t recognize him. She took the necessary information, collected the co-pay and motioned for him to be seated.
He hardly had time to select a magazine before his doctor’s nurse appeared and motioned him inside, oblivious to the disgruntled looks of the other patients who had arrived before him. She had been with the doctor for years and had seen him and his wife through a hodgepodge of illnesses. Their friendship was far more than professional.
As soon as they were alone, she gave him a big hug. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I can only imagine what you have been going through. It must have been terribly hard on you. How are you doing? Really? Are you okay?”
Sam nodded and tried to smile.
“It was a horrible tragedy but we did all we could. I just wish we could have done more. You did more than your share. I’ve never seen a more devoted husband.”
“Thank you,” Sam said. “Did you get the message I left to thank you for the card and the phone call. I did appreciate it. Not many doctors would be so thoughtful. I’m grateful for all of your efforts.”
He remembered the last time he had brought his wife to see the doctor. She had been in the nursing home for several weeks and was getting progressively worse--both physically and mentally. It was obvious the nursing staff had no idea how to help her. Sam had insisted on taking her to see the doctor. She wasn’t able to walk so he had borrowed a wheel chair and asked one of the nurse’s aids to help him get her in the car. Another nurse had helped him at the doctor’s office. It had been difficult for him and for those helping him. Sarah had been uncooperative. She had created quite a scene when the doctor told her she wasn’t well enough to go home. No matter how sick she became she always tried to wheedle the doctor into allowing her to return home.
“I know she was a nuisance sometimes and I appreciate how patient you were with her,” Sam said. “She could be a handful sometimes.”
The nurse laughed. “That’s an understatement. I kind of miss her phone calls though.” Sarah had been notorious for making phone calls. She had spent hours on the phone usually discussing things of no consequence.
“How long was she at the hospital?”
On their last visit the doctor had taken one look at her and told him to take her directly to the hospital.
“About ten days. They had a ton of specialists check her out and tried a slew of different medications. Nothing seemed to help much. I think they finally gave up.”
“Then they sent her back to the nursing home?”
Sam nodded.
The nurse weighed him and checked his blood pressure. “Looks good. You’ve always been so healthy,” she said.
“I’ve been lucky.
“No. You took care of yourself.” The nurse gave him a final hug. “The doctor will be in soon.”
The doctor must have been waiting outside the door. He came in immediately. He started to shake Sam’s hand and then, impulsively, put his arms around him. Sam was astonished. The doctor had never seemed like a demonstrative man.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” the doctor said finally.
“Thank you.”
“She just had too many problems. Nothing more we could do for her.” The doctor paused and looked him over carefully. “I hope you are all right. You were her rock. I’ve never seen a husband take better care of his wife.”
“Thank you.”
“So what did you come to see me for today.”
“It’s been over six months. You said you wanted to see me every six months.”
“So I did? Any problems?”
“Not really.”
“And you actually are doing okay. Good appetite, sleeping well, no depression.”
“I’m doing great,” Sam said. He wanted to reassure the doctor. “In fact I’ve started to date again.”
“That’s wonderful.” The doctor was beaming. “Nobody deserves it more. You need to get on with your life. Be happy. You know, you are in remarkable shape for a man your age. You are eighty? You could easily pass for ten years younger. I would guess you have another fifteen years at least.”
“Wow!” Sam said.
He decided to confide to the doctor. “You know I’m a little worried. I haven’t been with another woman in over fifty years. I’m wondering what will happen. We had a great sex life but I haven’t been aroused since she got sick. I’m not sure I’m capable.”
“Don’t you be concerned,” the doctor said. “I can give you a free sample of Cialis. Viagra quit giving out samples but Cialis is just as good. Maybe better.”
“How does it work?”
‘If you have any trouble getting aroused just excuse yourself, go to the bathroom and take the pill.”
“How fast does it work?”
“You should have a reaction in about thirty minutes.”
“Do I need to worry about the over four hours thingie?”
The doctor laughed. “Not unless you’re with a playboy bunny.”
“Wow!” Sam repeated.
‘You deserve to have a good life” the doctor said. “Maybe a younger woman. One who can keep up with you. A good sex life is important, no matter how old you are.
“Is it possible?”
“You bet,” the doctor said. “I have a patient who is ninety two years old. His wife is twenty years younger than him and she adores him. He still has an active sex life.”
Sam realized he was grinning ear to ear.
When he left the doctor’s office several minutes later he was whistling softly to himself.
The future had never seemed brighter. The only problem was finding a sixty-year-old woman who adored him.
