We’ll admit: though Keys Weekly is tasked with reporting the news in the Keys every week, we’ve got a problem. No matter how many individuals appear in the pages of each edition of our papers, there are always so many more of our community members who deserve to be recognized. In an effort to shine a spotlight on more of the incredible individuals who live and work in these islands, Keys Weekly is proud to spotlight our Neighbor of the Week feature, dedicated to celebrating a community member with each issue. This week’s Marathon neighbor might be one of the most energetic individuals ever to stand behind a cash register. Always fully equipped with a smile, a laugh and a quick joke, Lydia Vivian Padro takes pride in making sure her customers at Walgreens leave the store happier than when they came in.
LYDIA VIVIAN PADRO
Customer Service Associate & Credit Card Specialist, Walgreens
How did you come to Marathon? My sister owns the Florida Keys Steak & Lobster House. When my mother died, she went and got me in New York City and brought me to Marathon in 2010.
What would you like to be remembered for? My fun attitude. I like helping people, and I like working in customer service because I get to help and meet a lot of people.
What song always gets you on the dance floor? Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”
What is your dream vacation? Right now I’m planning a trip to Puerto Rico, but my dream vacation would be to see all parts of Italy, including Rome and Venice.
What is the last book you read or TV show you binged? The last books I read were by Jackie Collins and Danielle Steel, and the last TV show was “Law and Order.”
What would you do if you won the lottery? I’d like to build affordable housing, especially for single mothers like myself. I have three kids: Bianca (30), Julie (28) and Isis (17). I’d help my family and buy myself a nice house.
What’s the weirdest or funniest app you have on your phone? TikTok. Isis showed me that.
What’s one thing that is always on a menu, but you will never try? Frog legs!
What’s one thing most people never knew about you? I’m very sensitive, and I cry a lot.
Two truths and a lie: I was a professional dancer in New York City, I have a lot of money, and I get a lot of positive customer reviews here at my job. (If you guessed that last week’s Neighbor of the Week Randy doesn’t like Mondays, congrats!)
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received or given (or, is there a piece of advice you think is overrated or wrong?) Be kind to everybody. And for the bad piece of advice: People will tell me, “Lydia, you talk too much.” I’m in customer service – I have to!
