April 2020

I remember making an art project in second grade for the month of March that was supposed to demonstrate the “in like a lion, out like a lamb” description of March.  They hung from the ceiling, with a sheep covered with cotton balls and globs of errant glue on one side and a mangy looking lion covered with pieces of brown yarn on the other.  It’s odd how things stick in your mind and I’ve always thought of that art project when March rolls around, knowing that soon, “April showers bring May flowers”.  This year, though, that sense of normalcy didn’t seem to hold.  March was more like “in like Mother Nature with a bi-polar disorder, out like a pandemic!  I don’t remember “April showers” ever being tied to Chinese viruses that have the potential to kill a significant portion of the population, so I’m honestly not sure what to expect anymore.

Because of the risks that are inherent with the COVID-19 virus, the April meeting has been canceled.  While It’s always a fun time to get a bunch of turners together, there’s no sense in risking exposure to the virus amongst a group of people who are likely at on in the highest risk categories for infection.  Getting the same group of people together for a funeral doesn’t sound like near as much fun, either!  We’ll wait a bit to see if things have gotten better by the time the May meeting comes, then reassess.

In place of the normal meeting, I’m going to try something a little new and different for us.  At the normal meeting time (April 13th @ 6:30 PM), I’m going to attempt a Facebook Live demonstration from my house on using epoxy clay in turning.  An event will be posted to the club’s Facebook group when everything is set, with the date, time, and something to click on to join the presentation.  It’ll be open to anyone in our Facebook group, so non-club members will also be invited.  With any luck, it may entice a few of the local, non-club members, to join the club.  Attendees will be able to ask questions or make snarky comments via the chat function during the demo.  My son will soon be gladly volunteering (with a smile in his voice) to help monitor the chat session and relay questions.   I know there are some club members who aren’t on Facebook.   I completely understand NOT being caught up in social media and apologize if this is something you won’t be able to participate in, but it seemed to be the quickest, cheapest (i.e. free), and easiest way to broadcast a demo.  If you’d like to join Facebook just for this demo, I can help get that setup.

I, like many other turners, was sad to see the AAW cancel this year’s symposium in Louisville.  Depending on what source you read, the pandemic could either be over by then or we could be in the middle of a modern-day black plague and I think they made the right decision.  The lathe packages we have been granted were to come from the lathes used for the children’s hands-on program at the symposium.  There is a very real possibility that if the symposium is canceled, the grant will be canceled as well.  I submitted a question to the AAW president after the cancellation was announced to ask when they would know if the grants would proceed.  They told me this item is on their list and I can expect some decision “soon”.  As I hear more, I’ll pass it along to the club.  Until then, keep your fingers crossed that both the AAW and Jet are feeling particularly generous when they meet to discuss the grants. 

With the self-quarantine, we’ve also added another president’s challenge to fill the time while everyone is self-sequestered.  Since the COVID-19 virus looks kinda like a round ball of fuzz, the challenge is to make a sphere.  You can leave it brown and round or embellish it any way you want, but they’ll be due at the first live meeting after all this hysteria is over.  Think of this as making your own “I survived the quarantine” parting gift!  If you’re keeping busy in the shop, post some pics of what you’re working on to the Facebook group.  I’d love to see the creativity.

The hysteria around this virus is something I have not seen before.  From hoarding toilet paper, excessive hand washing, using hand sanitizers by the gallon, and refusing physical contact from all people, some folks seem to have completely lost their minds!  Sadly, my youngest daughter might be one of them.  She has decided that between my “advanced age” (56), my smoking habit, and my “complete lack of understanding the basics of science”, I am in immediate need of an intervention.  One evening at about 11:00 – before there was even the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in the county – she then began to lecture me about the virus transmission rates, the survivability rates of those over 55 who become infected, and a detailed description of what the virus would do to me during what would surely be my last days on the planet.  As her rant continued, I started to smile and may have even quietly chuckled.  She took this as a sign that I was not adequately embracing the truth bombs she was dropping and paused to ask why I was smiling with an angry/confused look on her face.  I said, “I just find it interesting that during the early days of the border crisis, you became an expert in immigration law and human rights violations.  During the Trump impeachment trial, you became an expert in constitutional law, parliamentary process, and ethics.  Now, you’re standing here having suddenly become a specialist in both immunology and pandemic civil response.  Looks like all that tuition money we gave ISU is really paying off!”  The next sound she made was somewhere between the sound I imagine a cat would make if thrown into a deep fryer and a large cow being sucked into a jet engine revving at full speed.  As she redoubled her efforts to “educate” me, it occurred to me that at some level, she’s just trying to protect me and doesn’t want to see me get sick or die.  I think that’s love and that’s a good thing.  Being fully checked out of the increasingly intense rant and not swayed by the waving arms, exaggerated facial expressions, or the aggressive finger that kept pointing at me, my mind began to wander.  I started making a series of mental notes of things I needed to do.  I need to see if there was a way to block MSNBC and CNN from the list of channels on the TV.  I need to get my Trend Airshield out and a pair of neoprene gloves, put them on right before gets home from work tomorrow, just to show her I was listening.  I also need to sneak back to the store and buy doubles of everything I already bought, just to show her I’m not planning to leave the house again for the foreseeable future.

Until next time, be careful, be safe, be sensible, be well, and thanks for reading!