IT'S NOT OVER, 'TIL IT'S OVER | COVID COMMENTARY

(from the MEMORY BROTHERS' NEWSLETTER - TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021)

Dear friends,

 

I wish I were writing today to announce that the pandemic is officially over & everything's finally back to normal and that the Memory Brothers' schedule for 2021 is ready for your perusal!

But unfortunately, that's not the case.

A few months ago, I'd taken a hiatus from writing this weekly newsletter because there were no more gigs to promote. The newsletter content had shifted from music-related news to ruminations about the pandemic. It was beginning to sound like a broken record: “social distance,” “wear your face masks,” “wash your hands,” etc.

 

However due to troubling developments regarding this pandemic, I feel compelled to jump back on my soapbox to remind you all that we're still in the midst of a harrowing battle. To many, the battle's over (or never really existed in the first place,) although now we're truly at a crossroads.

 

Up until recently, we had seemingly “rounded the corner” with cases and deaths declining. But approximately three weeks ago, an overwhelming complacency swept over the public fueled by a false sense of security due to the vaccinations.

 

On March 10, I emailed the following note to a fellow musician in response to his inquiry regarding Russ Guyer (former Memory Brother) who had just passed away two days prior:

* * *

"Yes, Russ was a casualty of COVID. [A friend] called to tell me about Russ. And in our conversation, she told me of several of the people in our dance community who have come down with COVID . . ."

"[She] went on to name [several] of the dance community (including herself) who have acquired the virus - a couple of which nearly died. The day before she called, I saw a couple video clips posted of [a regional musician's] gig . . . They had a turnout of 106; and with the exception of ONE person I saw on the clips, no one was wearing face masks or observing social distancing! And vie of those I saw, were folks whom I've heard have had COVID . . .

"OK, so you and I (and many of our friends) have been religiously observing all the good behaviors to avoid catching this bug (and to stem the spread of it) while we have a bunch of dolts tempting fate by being either stupid or arrogant! Their thought process possibly being: 'Well, now that everyone is getting vaccinated, I guess it's safe to return to life as we knew it pre-COVID! Let's go dancing again!'

"Mark my words . . . watch what's gonna be happening in three or four weeks . . . mark my words!!"

* * *

Well now, three weeks later here are the headlines:

 

Virus surges in early hot spots 
MARINA VILLENEUVE AND MIKE CATALINI | Associated Press

(click to read full article)

 

Virus cases up in Iowa, echoing national trend 
The Waterloo Courier

(click to read full article)

 

Iowa COVID cases jump sharply, test positivity among the highest in nation 
PERRY BEEMAN | Iowa Capital Dispatch

(click to read full article)

 

And just today according to an Associated Press article, President Biden announced that too many Americans are declaring virus victory too quickly, stating: “This is deadly serious” - urging governors to reinstate mask mandates and other restrictions that some states have been easing.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch article (above) was forwarded to me today by my good friend, Claudia Warner. Claudia has always been one to speak her mind, and I applaud what she writes:

"The attitude of the non-maskers is disgusting. Their lack of responsibility and selfish demands are putting us all at risk again in the next few weeks. I am finding that many who I thought were intelligent, caring persons have no concern for the welfare of others."
 

* * *

 

During 2020 and most of 2021, my phone and email inbox have been pretty quiet regarding bookings. However for the past two weeks, the floodgates have burst open; and I've been receiving literally dozens of calls and emails from curious club owners, music bookers and folks from the dance community asking when we're starting up again.

 

All I can say is people just don't get it! Everyone's jumping back into life-as-we-knew-it, 'cuz they're all "COVID fatigued." But what Harvard's Dr. Ashish Jha said way back in June is more germane now than ever:

 

"We may be done with the pandemic, but the pandemic is not done with us.”

 

This virus is crafty in the way that it's mutating. With the emergence of possible vaccine-resistant variants coupled with the public's arrogant sense of invulnerability (due in part to these "Emergency Use Authorization" vaccines,) we're careening down a treacherous slope!

 

Be smart and play it safe. It's not over 'til it's over!

 

DOUG KOEMPEL | MEMORY BROTHERS

Tuesday, March 30, 2021