New York Shitty Day Ender: Goodbye

It is with a heavy heart that I inform everyone that one of my favorite bodega ladies, Neer, of AJ Farms Market will be leaving us— SOON. I learned this today, which was her last at her soon-to-be former job. She will be moving to Maryland where she has family (and undoubtedly bigger and better opportunities). After recovering from the initial shock I wished Neer the best of luck and begged her to stay in touch. She said she would try— and informed me she might take Larry, one of the Garden Spot’s most-beloved bodega cats, with her. I told her that while his absence would definitely be felt by his numerous fans hereabouts (foremost among them: yours truly), I understood: Larry is, first and foremost, her cat. Or more accurately: she is Larry’s person. Whether to stay or go is his decision to make, not ours.

Goodbye, Neer. I will miss our near-daily chats and musings over Larry’s (latest) antics.* Whether you knew it or not, you will be missed by more people than you think! You were more than just a woman at the cash register to many of us: you were a friend. And I suspect I speak for many when I write that I am proud to have called you a neighbor.

Miss Heather

*Beating up dogs, mostly.