To the editor:
I was recently in a local pharmacy searching for some sugar-free candies. A few feet away from me, an older gentleman was also searching for something: The two of us reminded me of kids in a candy store deciding what to buy for the movies.
I asked, “Can I help you find something?” He answered, “No, they don’t have it,” so I mentioned that stores are having difficulty receiving products.
He agreed and I proceeded down the end of the aisle, then dropped to one knee, and, lo and behold, I shouted, “Got mine!”
The elderly gentleman walked over to me with a smile. Then I noticed his hat — United States Marine Corps! “I’m Navy!,” I announced. He replied with the familiar Navy-Marine Corps joke about Navy ships transporting Marine rear-ends. We both laughed.
He mentioned that his father was in World War I, and began to tell me a story about his friend, a 17-year-old senior in a Lynn high school Class of 1944. He said his friend quit during his senior year and enlisted in the Marines.
He also wanted to enlist; however his father said, “Finish your senior year and I’ll sign the papers.” His father kept his word and signed him up.
Then he said, “You know, it really changed my life. It really did.” I told him I felt the same way about my service. I mentioned that I had to leave school in my junior year, as my father was disabled, and help out to buy food and pay rent.
While crossing the Atlantic on a six-month deployment, I was fortunate to receive my high school general equivalency degree, which later paid off with career advancement.
Today it would be impossible to hold some of these jobs without a college degree. “Absolutely true,” he concurred and we continued to talk.
Somewhere in our conversation, I thought I heard him say the word, “mayor.”
“Oh,” I asked, “You were mayor? Well, I just got my real experience in politics.”
He was wearing a mask, but I could tell he was smiling.
I pointed out that it must be hard not to hold any disdain — not from losing — but from other things that go along with the process.
He then immediately held up one finger and shook his head back forth. “No,” he said, adding, “You let it go. You are correct, but you put it behind you, and thank you!”
Shaking hands, we proceeded to leave the store. As we walked out, I asked, “By the way, what was the city?”
I had to lean forward to hear his answer and, when I did, I exclaimed, “Costin! Oh Lynn. Well, Mr. Mayor, it was certainly a real pleasure meeting you and it was nice to make a new friend.” We shook hands one more time and he said, “Yes, a friend for life!”
I could not have met a nicer man the day I met former Lynn Mayor Thomas P. Costin Jr., and I hope we do meet again — soon.
L. Robert Nadeau
Lynn
