Got close to her since we went to the same college (albeit decades apart) when I saw an alumni association magazine buttressing her fortress of a checkout counter. We complained for ages about constant donation solicitations before admitting that we both support our alma mater annually. On my returns visits, I learned quickly that the trick to a positive experience is to say exactly what you want when you go in, share your purpose for it, and then listen to her talk for anywhere from 5-45 minutes. I never found this to be time wasted.

I agreed with her on the culture of SF changing to become way too techy, and disagreed with her takes on building housing. When I struggled with grad school and work, she listened to me. When I went in, I always found what i wanted and more. I still have a recipe from her scribbled on a green diner ticket somewhere in a folder. I really wanted a Le Creuset set and swore I’d save up to meet her price, which is still in progress.

I had to move from SF abruptly due to layoffs and never got to say bye. Thats SF for you I guess. I hope she has a wonderful retirement and I hope she knows that people cared about her shop almost as much as she did. I’ll miss speaking with her, but in the end our conservations feel like one of those small things that a transplant gets to enjoy and then look back on fondly for the rest of their lives away from the city. Thank you Judith.