A Group Hug for the Passing of Jim Mitchell. Ralph Was There!
Dear Editor,
I was present at the Revere Advocate headquarters to pick up copies of my big article release. I walked into a crying office shell-shocked and reeling by the breaking news that their beloved co-worker Mr. Mitchell, for over 18 years a staple of the Revere news community, had just passed away at the hospital.
My heart was broken at the sight of these hard-working women mourning at their desks. I recognized the feeling all too well of losing a loved one etched on their faces. The dark trails of mascara running alongside soulful tears.
This was no longer a moment of business and commerce, it was a moment of empathy, patience, and compassion. Inside the Revere Advocate HQ, I gingerly offered comforting energy and healing words to Tara, the friendly local community photographer, and to Nancy, the dedicated senior bookkeeper who loves her job and has been there for years.
Despite it all, at that moment, Nancy’s dedication to her job was unrelenting. She still wanted to help me, she loved my photo in the paper, and she thought my story really stood out well.
She was slurring her words, stuttering while she tried to figure out what to say next. She mindlessly ran her fingers across the keyboard as she batted her eyes feverishly, lost and confused at the moment.
James “Jimmy” Mitchell, the son of the late community member, had reached out to me just a week prior for a meeting scheduled for that very day. He wasn’t there…and his Dad wasn’t there. They were both in hospice. Jimmy was by his father’s bedside, his father the latter.
Cautiously and softly, I nodded to both Tara and Nancy that everything would be OK. Warmly and full of healing energy, I offered a group hug. Nancy’s eyes popped open, surprised and bewildered. She shot a look back and forth at a teary-eyed Tara and the stack of newspapers and bills on her desk.
I raised my hands and arms wide apart, similar to my youthful days playing varsity basketball and holding a strong defensive stance. At that moment, I was defending our safe space from all negativity. Nancy kicked her rollie chair backward, ran over, and wrapped her arms around mine. Tara the field photog followed suit embracing the group hug, “You guys are going to make me cry,†she whispered, overcome with the somber moment.
Soon thereafter I told them to close up the shop, lock the place down and head on home. The seasoned community veterans needed to hear that from someone at that moment. And I humbly obliged that role and responsibility.
Before leaving, Tara said to me that I can come back anytime and followed by making a request for me to make a tribute post. I looked them both in the eye and made a promise I would.
I believe myself to be a leading candidate for Revere City Council Ward 5! I’ve garnered strong unwavering support in the Point of Pines Area, the entire Revere Beach Blvd, and a crowd favorite at the Jack Satter House. For more information and to get in touch with me visit VoteRalphCelestin.com.
Ralph Celestin
Ralph Balan Celestin is a candidate for Ward 5 Revere City Council.
