Something we've seen over and over again here in the supermarkets, the mini supermarkets and the market in Chinon, is the kindness towards elderly people who are on their own. Some of them are definitely older, whereas with others I imagine it is more a state of mind that comes with loneliness.
Quite often a visit to the shops is the main social event of the week. Somehow the 'aloneness' of people, elderly or otherwise, isn't as obvious in your own country. Or maybe that's more to do with where we've been living. But in Chinon the patience and consideration in general towards the elderly, people who are disabled and individuals on their own, is evident.
I saw it again this morning and last Thursday when we were shopping in the Chinon
market. Two elderly ladies on their own, who were finding the business of shopping and carrying it all a bit of an effort, and too tiring to then have to deal with the paying of everything. So in each case the ladies handed their purses over to the woman on the till, as in Carrefour this morning and to the greengrocer as in the market last week. It helps that the two ladies shop regularly at the same place. It must make a difference to those involved. However the process takes a fair bit time and yet no one minds. Instead the other customers look on, as the amount of money needed is careful removed and counted out in front of the customer, accompanied by chats about the weather and other little details. It's lovely to see the time being taken in this way, when in fact it would be so much easier just to rush the ladies through.
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