President’s Muse: PERSPECTIVE
Greetings Jaguar Club members from my “man cave/office” in Los Alamitos California. We all have been affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic scourge and have been in lock-down mode for over three months. These months have been the most momentous 90 days in our country’s history since 9/11 and the Twin Towers attack in New York City. People react in many ways to fear and disaster, some rise to the top and chip-in to help, while others go into survival mode, and yet others take charge and look for solutions to the pending crisis. Who would every thought that toilet paper would become a valuable commodity, or that face masks would become the new normal accessory? The words “social distancing” now means 6 feet between you and another person, that shaking hands has been replaced with an elbow bump or just maybe a node and a wink is the new greeting.
Will this be our new way of life or is this simply another challenge we must face and overcome; interesting perspectives have been voiced from all sectors of our country. There will be those who will try to profit from this situation and they will be dealt with, there are those who will sacrifice in order to solve the challenges, and finally, there are those who will trust human kindness and common sense to resolve the situation. I for one am betting on the later. As an organization of individuals with a common interest, a passion, the enjoyment of others company, I am encouraged to listen and to hear others profess positive ideas and communications.
During this lock-down I have enjoyed phone calls and emails from club members asking about their car’s performance, maintenance issues, recommendations for mechanics, restoration sources, and just-folks saying hello and trying to carry-on as normal. I have received requests for membership information, club history, next club events, ideas for get-togethers, and more. The Jaguar Owners Club is 65 years young, we are the oldest active JCNA club in North America, active means that we participate in all aspects of JCNA events, social gatherings, organizing regional and national events, and participate with other sister clubs in our region. Recently, we had an event where 43 club members participated in a “driving event” with a luncheon at the end. Thirty-five members decided to have lunch and they all practiced “social distancing” and enjoyed themselves immensely. Every table was loud with chatter and laughter, many stories were told, and people were not fearful but rather positive, practicing the new normal, and enjoying conversations long since silenced.
Yes, we are in a time of our short history that is not normal, but humans can and do adapt to change and challenges. It is in our power to overcome adversity and threat, our history as a Nation is to be united, one family, charging forward to resolution, and achieving common good.
PERSPECTIVE: to look at or through, specific point of view
Cheers, Mark Mayuga, President JOCLA #565 |