Circa 1960 Mom would take my younger brother and me to town to buy
school clothes for the year. She would always park the car on Center Street
such that we had to walk by the Rexall Drug Store at the street corner.
The druggist there always displayed a wide array of hot water bottles, fountain
syringes, in their open packaging displaying hoses, nozzles and incidentals
such as hooks to hang a bag. Mom would make it a point to stop and gaze at
the product display.
One year with my brother already turning beet red waiting for Mom to end the
drug store pilgrimage, Mom's sister walked around the corner. My aunt and Mom
could always discuss anything and I do mean anything. While discussing the
merits of various designs Mom asked my Aunt, "Do you think that shade of blue
is ok for Mike's enema needs?"
You could have heard my brother shriek, "Mom!" for blocks.
Mom just smiled, and proceeded to the department store talking with her sister
with my fire engine red faced brother and me in tow.