9/11/2024
Dear Diary,
Today I met C.
Their very friendly dog bounded to the door when I arrived.
I was relieved to see that the house was tidy and clean.
It was like C knew me and liked me. Heartening really.
We made a cup of tea and talked for a while. They have a rare disease and other medical issues, they use a walker and require assistance every day.
We went to a mall for a cup of coffee. I have seen people like us in malls before. It's a particular look, two people, often a decade or so apart, no similarity, polite with each other but the body language implies a connection that is neither intimate nor disconnected and yet not quite perfunctory.
It was odd driving a virtual stranger around, their lightweight stroller in the boot, their story freely told.
It was a strangely demanding and pleasant day. Doing their dishes, folding some washing. I didn't feel subservient more an ally in their life.
I dropped them off to their exercise class, a high tech environment, where they will get one on one support to activate wasted muscles.
I'll go again to their house on Monday. C said they will show me some photos of the time she strutted the catwalk when they were a successful model.
I'm glad the primary skills for this job are care and kindness.
I know I should avert my gaze from the U.S but it's compelling that a country is more afraid to elect a woman than Trump.
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