Blog

Edited by Lisa Ciota, Education Guide,  2020 Docent in Training

This is a continuing feature for these unusual times. Remember, we’d love to hear what you’re are doing to cope and keep busy. When you have a story to share, send your thoughts to Leslie Clark Lewis at le**************@co*****.net.

Here’s what a few more of us have been doing as we continue our social distancing.

Bob Sutter, Class of 2019, Education Guide, Exhibit Host
In a case of being all dressed up with nowhere to go, Bob certified for the Northwestern Campus Walking Tour the day before we all started sheltering in home. He thanks Leanne Star, Bob Michaelson and Larry Mages for their efforts in creating that new CAC offering. Bob reports that he is keeping busy by doubling his daily running mileage (as a tribute to Dr. Fauci, who runs seven miles a day at age 79) and is making up for a lifetime of rarely watching TV by binging on Netflix. He highly recommends Ozark, Better Call Saul, and Schitts Creek.

Patricia O’Connor, 2020 Docent in Training
In a case of hope springs eternal, 2020 Docent Class Candidate Patricia O’Connor is collaborating with her female relatives in a Virtual Bootcamp to get ready for their beachside family reunion scheduled for late June. Every other day a new exercise is added to the bootcamp which requires no special equipment and can be done in any home. The circuit currently includes planks, tricep kickbacks, and jumping jacks. Patricia figures that even if the holiday is postponed, she’ll have a pretty awesome work out by the time the COVID stay at home restrictions are lifted! Patricia’s tip for other workout enthusiasts missing their gym’s weight equipment is to fill empty 16 oz plastic water bottles with marbles, pie weights or glass stones to make homemade two-pound weights.

Karen Bohr, Education Guide, Exhibit Host
“As things started getting cancelled, my husband and I started preparing for the stay-at-home order, so we’re all set” said Karen Bohr. Karen has been tackling some long-ignored projects and taking the time to go on long walks. For her, “The hardest part has been the closure of Lincoln Park which is literally my front yard.” Wisely, in the quiet and stillness of these times, Karen is also giving herself permission to just “be.”

Jeff Zurlinden, Class of 2015, Education Guide, Exhibit Host
Tap, ta-tap. Tap, ta-tap. That’s the sound echoing in the lobby, stairwell and hallways of Jeff Zurlinden’s apartment building as he centers himself by practicing tap-dancing on a repurposed Formica-covered board. Jeff sounds somewhat amazed when says, “my neighbors tell me they really don’t hear my tapping and it doesn’t bother them.” While Tap Dancing in Zen is a real thing (there’s a book about it), Jeff is also working on the CAC’s new Sheffield neighborhood tour, his upcoming presentation to the Victorian Society as well as practicing his German language skills.