Goodbye Peeler Man

Joe the Peeler Man died. This is sad for me, because I will always associate the Peeler Man with Nathan. Even though he's been selling peelers around New York City for decades, I had never seen him in action (or noticed) until a couple of years ago. On one of his trips to New York, on a day when I had to work, Nathan encountered the Peeler Man as he wandered the streets near my office. He was impressed by his entertaining shpiel and by the fact that one of his own countrymen was selling vegetable peelers on a street corner. And not just any peelers, these were of course THE GREATEST peelers you will ever find, the one peeler you will ever need, made in Switzerland, and of course you know that means it's a quality product because they don't make anything crap in Switzerland. :) Nathan bought one for his mom and one for me at $5 a pop. Joe the Peeler Man was a natural born salesman. You didn't buy his peelers because you needed a peeler, you bought one because this guy put on a show, sitting on a bucket, peeling vegetables, wearing a suit, and speaking with a British accent. Add to that that he was in his 70s and you have quite a character. Shortly after Nathan proudly presented me with my own super-duper vegetable peeler, I started to notice Joe doing his routine (once in Union Square, once near my office), and not long after that his quirky story made the news. As it turns out, Joe made quite a living peeling carrots on a corner. He lived on Park Avenue! Even if I rarely use that peeler, I am proud to have it as it is a piece of American legend. I don't know what he died of, but the Peeler Man will be missed.