After my father had back surgery and he could no longer handle the bent over position of his road bike, we got him an Electra Townie. It is extremely comfortable. His back stays straight, the handlebars are relatively high, and the saddle is VERY comfortable. Another added bonus to bikes like this is that he can put both of his feet flat on the ground without getting out of the saddle, since the pedals are located several inches in front of the saddle, rather than directly below it. It rides incredibly smoothly. He absolutely loves it. Not sure exactly what kind of bike you're looking for, but I thought I'd make a suggestion!

Also, since it seems like you're going to have to make a long drive to pick up your bike, maybe make a list of all the accessories you want so you can get everything at the same time. I forgot a million things when I bought my bike and had to go back to the LBS about 10 times over the next few weeks! Keep things like racks and bags in mind, as well as a water bottle cage or two and maybe a lock. Many people also carry all the essentials for changing/patching a tube. Of course, you can get most of these things online as well!